Engineering and the law-employment obligations. I. Duties of an employee to his employer

Problems that arise in connection with duties to the current employer(s) are discussed. Current employment law evolved from the feudal relationship between lords and peasants. An employee has a fiduciary duty toward his employer; this is a common law duty deriving its name from the duty of fides, or fidelity, between the master and the servant. In the case of a scientist or engineer employed to conduct research and/or development for a company or university, fiduciary duties obligate the employee to offer all benefits of the work he conducts for the employer to the employer. A scientist or engineer with interests that are adverse to a potential employer must disclose the existence and extent of such interests. An employee has a duty not to compete with his employer concerning the subject matter of the employment; this duty has been documented extensively in legal cases. An employee also has a duty not to act, or agree to act, for third parties whose interest conflict with those of his employer