If you need an NDA, looking at templates online isn't a bad place to start, but ideally you should work with a lawyer who can write a simple NDA for you or tweak the one you have. You may be able to find someone in your community who can do it for a few hundred bucks.
In addition, California's STAND Act and Silenced No More Act make it unlawful for businesses to use nondisclosure agreements to prevent their employees from revealing factual information regarding sexual assaults, workplace harassment, workplace discrimination, or workplace retaliation.
The Receiving Party agrees not to issue or release for publication any articles or advertising or publicity matter relating to this Agreement which mention or imply the name of the Disclosing Party any of its affiliates, or subject matter hereof, unless prior written consent is granted by the Disclosing Party subject ...
Various whistleblower laws protect employees who have signed non-disclosure agreements and find whistleblowing necessary to right the wrongs of their employers. For instance, California law deems unenforceable NDAs that require employees to keep quiet about harassment, discrimination, or unlawful workplace activity.
NDAs should have a clear description of the purpose, parties, and duration they cover. Specifying time limits or periods that your employees are subject to confidentiality is particularly important to ensure your NDA is enforceable in California. The typical time period is one to five years.
Starting January 1, 2025, businesses settling disputes with consumers cannot condition any refund or other consideration on a consumer agreeing not to make statements about the business, regardless of the sentiment or accuracy of those statements. The text of the new Cal. Civ. Code § 1748.50 can be found here.
I hereby undertake to treat as confidential all and any information that I receive while participating in the work of evaluating project proposals, to use this information solely for the purpose of evaluation of the proposals, not to disclose it to any third party and not to make it publicly available or accessible ...
California courts may refuse to enforce non-disclosure agreements that are overly broad or vague in their terms. NDAs should have a clear description of the purpose, parties, and duration they cover.
You don't need a lawyer to create the agreement, but you may need someone with legal expertise to review it.