A Confidentiality Agreement for Consultants, Independent Contractors or other 1099 Employees is a legally binding document between an employer and an employee. It is designed to protect confidential information, including trade secrets, proprietary information, and any other information that could harm the employer if it were made available to the public. The agreement is typically used in situations where the employee is given access to confidential information to use in the course of their duties. There are two main types of Confidentiality Agreement for Consultants, Independent Contractors or other 1099 Employees: unilateral and mutual. In a unilateral agreement, the employer is the only party that is bound by the agreement; the employee does not receive any corresponding rights or obligations. In a mutual agreement, both parties are bound by the agreement and both parties have rights and obligations. The agreement typically specifies what information is to be kept confidential, the duration of the agreement, and what is to happen if the agreement is breached. It also typically prohibits the employee from using or disclosing the confidential information for any purpose other than their work for the employer.