What benefits are there in signing a non-compete after resigning, with no formal contract of employment?
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I'm currently leaving a company but they want me to sign a non-compete before leaving.
I don't have any formal contract with the company nor anywhere did I sign that I would commit myself to it.
Is there any benefit for me in doing so? Why would I want to do this?
resignation contracts
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Alima Secdi is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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up vote
44
down vote
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I'm currently leaving a company but they want me to sign a non-compete before leaving.
I don't have any formal contract with the company nor anywhere did I sign that I would commit myself to it.
Is there any benefit for me in doing so? Why would I want to do this?
resignation contracts
New contributor
Alima Secdi is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
65
Are they offering you something to sign the non-compete?
– user1666620
yesterday
7
No, they are not offering anything in return
– Alima Secdi
yesterday
113
If they don't offer anything in return, there's no point in signing it, is there?
– Mast
yesterday
11
Depending on your legal jurisdiction, signing a non-compete without anything in return would be null and void, given that there is no consideration. Additionally, a non-compete normally requires that you be paid in full for the duration of your non-compete (a man has got to eat).
– Aron
yesterday
17
Wait, when you say you "don't have a formal contract" do you mean you never had a written contract while you were working there? If that's the case, why start now?
– Steve-O
20 hours ago
 |Â
show 16 more comments
up vote
44
down vote
favorite
up vote
44
down vote
favorite
I'm currently leaving a company but they want me to sign a non-compete before leaving.
I don't have any formal contract with the company nor anywhere did I sign that I would commit myself to it.
Is there any benefit for me in doing so? Why would I want to do this?
resignation contracts
New contributor
Alima Secdi is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I'm currently leaving a company but they want me to sign a non-compete before leaving.
I don't have any formal contract with the company nor anywhere did I sign that I would commit myself to it.
Is there any benefit for me in doing so? Why would I want to do this?
resignation contracts
resignation contracts
New contributor
Alima Secdi is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Alima Secdi is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 9 mins ago
enderland♦
97.8k47295452
97.8k47295452
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Alima Secdi is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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asked yesterday
Alima Secdi
23623
23623
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Alima Secdi is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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Alima Secdi is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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Alima Secdi is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
65
Are they offering you something to sign the non-compete?
– user1666620
yesterday
7
No, they are not offering anything in return
– Alima Secdi
yesterday
113
If they don't offer anything in return, there's no point in signing it, is there?
– Mast
yesterday
11
Depending on your legal jurisdiction, signing a non-compete without anything in return would be null and void, given that there is no consideration. Additionally, a non-compete normally requires that you be paid in full for the duration of your non-compete (a man has got to eat).
– Aron
yesterday
17
Wait, when you say you "don't have a formal contract" do you mean you never had a written contract while you were working there? If that's the case, why start now?
– Steve-O
20 hours ago
 |Â
show 16 more comments
65
Are they offering you something to sign the non-compete?
– user1666620
yesterday
7
No, they are not offering anything in return
– Alima Secdi
yesterday
113
If they don't offer anything in return, there's no point in signing it, is there?
– Mast
yesterday
11
Depending on your legal jurisdiction, signing a non-compete without anything in return would be null and void, given that there is no consideration. Additionally, a non-compete normally requires that you be paid in full for the duration of your non-compete (a man has got to eat).
– Aron
yesterday
17
Wait, when you say you "don't have a formal contract" do you mean you never had a written contract while you were working there? If that's the case, why start now?
– Steve-O
20 hours ago
65
65
Are they offering you something to sign the non-compete?
– user1666620
yesterday
Are they offering you something to sign the non-compete?
– user1666620
yesterday
7
7
No, they are not offering anything in return
– Alima Secdi
yesterday
No, they are not offering anything in return
– Alima Secdi
yesterday
113
113
If they don't offer anything in return, there's no point in signing it, is there?
– Mast
yesterday
If they don't offer anything in return, there's no point in signing it, is there?
– Mast
yesterday
11
11
Depending on your legal jurisdiction, signing a non-compete without anything in return would be null and void, given that there is no consideration. Additionally, a non-compete normally requires that you be paid in full for the duration of your non-compete (a man has got to eat).
– Aron
yesterday
Depending on your legal jurisdiction, signing a non-compete without anything in return would be null and void, given that there is no consideration. Additionally, a non-compete normally requires that you be paid in full for the duration of your non-compete (a man has got to eat).
– Aron
yesterday
17
17
Wait, when you say you "don't have a formal contract" do you mean you never had a written contract while you were working there? If that's the case, why start now?
– Steve-O
20 hours ago
Wait, when you say you "don't have a formal contract" do you mean you never had a written contract while you were working there? If that's the case, why start now?
– Steve-O
20 hours ago
 |Â
show 16 more comments
8 Answers
8
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oldest
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up vote
129
down vote
No. You gain nothing by signing and potentially limit your employment options by agreeing to the non-compete. By rights, if they were acting legitimately they would have had you sign one as part of your initial employment conditions before you even started the job. This is retrospective CYA nonsense and you should treat it as such.
If they really want you to sign, ask for a bonus in return for potentially limiting your employability. Otherwise just walk away
28
Drop the last paragraph. They don't want you to sign sufficiently much to pay you what it's worth, which is at least your full prior salary times the length of effect of the non-compete.
– R..
yesterday
10
@R.. - I don't understand why you said "drop the last paragraph", when what you're suggesting is exactly what that paragraph says -- if they want you to sign, then ask them to pay you fair market value for what you're signing. Depending on how restrictive the agreement is, full salary may be more than the actual value of what they are asking for.
– Johnny
21 hours ago
39
For anyone else wondering: CYA = cover your ass (?)
– problemofficer
20 hours ago
17
@Johnny: Further detail could make the last paragraph better rather than dropping it, but just saying "ask for a bonus" does nothing to draw attention to how astronomically huge the bonus needs to be in order for it to be deterministically better for OP rather than a gamble.
– R..
19 hours ago
21
@R.. It depends how broad a non-compete they want. If they just want you not to work for their direct competitors, they have few competitors, you didn't want to do that anyway, and it's just for a year, even just two month's salary might make it a good deal. They may just want you not to work on a particular product area (enterprise storage systems, self-driving cars, whatever) and that might not even be one you're interested in working on anymore. We don't know. The point is, the OP has to get fair value.
– David Schwartz
17 hours ago
 |Â
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up vote
39
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The non-compete agreement you're being asked to sign is a contract. In many countries, forming an enforceable contract requires all five of the following:
- A lawful purpose, in which the things the contract requires of the parties don't break any laws. This would include any restrictions on whether or not the kind of contract you're being asked to sign is valid where it was executed.
- An offer, where one party makes a proposal to the other.
Consideration, where each party gives the other something in exchange for that they're getting.
Capacity, where both parties have ability to understand what's in the contract and are legally allowed to be party to it.
Acceptance, where both parties decide that the consideration they're getting for what they're giving is equitable and agree to what's in the contract, often by signing it.
The contract your company proposes has lots of consideration for them (they get the benefits of not having a former employee at a competitor) and none for you. Because they are offering you nothing in return for staying out of their industry, you have no incentive to accept what they propose. The time to have done that would have been when they were offering you a job in the first place.
The easiest route would be to reject their offer outright. You've resigned, so all they can really do at work is terminate your employment early. The worst they could do after you leave is file a malicious suit for misappropriating their trade secrets. Even if they don't win, you still lose because defending yourself will cost money and time, but they still run the risk of an expensive countersuit.
Negotiating fair consideration would require that you figure out what you would lose by abiding by their terms. If signing would force you to take a position in another field that doesn't pay as well, you should demand the difference or, if you can't work at all because of it, the full value of your salary and benefits. If the company was dumb enough to try this as you were leaving, I'd penalize them at least 25% additional to make sure they really want you out of circulation, but that's just how I do business. Whatever goes into the agreement, the consideration has to last the full duration of the time you're out of circulation and should either be paid up front or, if they stop paying you, the contract becomes void. (All of this takes time and money to arrange and is why it's easier to simply decline their offer.)
1
This is a good answer. It could be improved by mentioning that various jurisdictions have restrictions on what is enforceable in a non-compete contract and that it would be beneficial for the OP to do a bit of research to determine what is enforceable in their jurisdiction. That assumes that the OP desires to enter into negotiation, rather than just outright rejecting a non-compete contract at all. The OP should note that they loose very little by beginning such a negotiation. While it's unlikely, it's possible the OP could get more than they expect.
– Makyen
17 hours ago
1
I would add to @Makyen's comment that up to my knowledge all NCAs must have a limited time span and cannot/should-not be lifetime, i.e. banning the OP entirely from working in that sector for his entire mortal life. My jurisdiction is Europe, OP's is not specified
– usr-local-ΕΨΗΕΛΩÎÂ
10 hours ago
1
The lawyer in me likes this answer, but I would caveat it by saying the exception is where signing wouldn't cost you anything and there's a chance you might want to return to the company in the future. In that case, doing something that doesn't harm you (and is probably not legally enforceable in any case) but buys you some goodwill with the company might not be such a bad idea. If you have no immediate plans to return though, then don't impose this limit on yourself, even if you don't think it will affect you (nobody knows the future).
– delinear
2 hours ago
+1 for the elements of a contract, but can you provide a source for that?
– Aaron Hall
2 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
38
down vote
There is no reason for you to sign this. You cannot benefit in any way from signing, but you might lose big time if you sign. As a consequence, do NOT sign anything under any circumstances.
8
I wouldn't say "under any circumstances". The company could offer an appropriate amount of money which compensates the OP for signing the non-compete contract. It is, however, very unlikely that the company is interested in providing a level of compensation that is reasonable wrt. the value that the OP is giving up. The OP should also become aware of what is legally permitted/enforceable wrt. non-compete contracts in their jurisdiction.
– Makyen
17 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
8
down vote
General rule of thumb when you have resigned is to ignore anything that does not palpably benefit you. This would include anything like signing documents.
So unless it includes a mention of recompense then don't enter into any dialogue at all. If you haven't left yet and you're forced to answer you just put it off. If you have left you just ignore it.
add a comment |Â
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4
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TL;DR
You're under no obligation to do so. There are reasons you might want to, and reasons you might not. But they should have handled this a lot earlier, trying to do it now is a bit unprofessional of them. Don't sign anything that isn't significantly time-limited (the longest I've ever seen was five years, which I negotiated down to two; six months is more common in my experience, YMMV). In any case, be polite, and also firm.
Reasons not to sign it
It limits your employment options: If you get an employment offer from a direct competitor of theirs, you can't take it. Only you know whether that's a significant limitation or an insignificant one. (I've left jobs where it would have been significant, and also ones where it would have been insignificant.)
Hassle: If you take a job with a company you thought wasn't a direct competitor of theirs, but they think it is, they may hassle you about it. ("hassle" could be anything from repeated contacts making you uncomfortable to suing you.)
Reasons to sign it
Remaining on good terms: If you've left on good terms, refusing to do this now may harm that.
Compensation: They're asking you to do something that may limit your choices; it's perfectly reasonable to ask for compensation for that, though it's hard to imagine getting enough to make it worthwhile, and naturally you'll want to avoid giving them the impression you're blackmailing them. (Negotiating compensation for something like this is not blackmail, but that doesn't affect their perception of it.)
Other Notes
These things are usually time-limited. If you decide to do it, make sure it's time-limited in a way you're comfortable with.
If you decide not to do it, I'd make a point of doing so very politely. Along the lines of:
I understand why you'd want that, but I'm afraid I don't think I can. Although I have no specific plans to work for a competitor of yours, and I certainly have no intention of doing anything unprofessional, I need to keep my options open.
(Obviously, if you've resigned to go work for a competitor, you have to remove the first bit of that.)
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
While my first instinct agrees with the other question, i.e. "why would you do that?" there is also another way to approach the question:
A contract (and this is a contract) is an agreement between two parties where both parties believe to have an advantage from signing over not signing.
So flat out ask them what they offer you for signing. Such agreements are typically signed at the beginning of an employment relationship, where your advantage is that you get the job and in jobs where the company wants you more than you want them it is usually part of the compensation, or in simple terms, they pay you for it.
Make a simple calculation what the non-compete could cost you in terms of opportunities you must forfeit. If they offer a compensation higher than this, the deal is advantageous for you and you could (but don't have to) sign it. If they offer lower, state factually that their offer is not high enough and refuse.
This shifts the discussion from "stubborn" to "greedy", but greedy is a trait that businesses can deal with. Or in other words: They can solve the problem simply by offering you enough money. And if they don't offer enough, it is not you being stubborn, it is them being cheap.
Approaching the question from this angle allows you to turn the tables on them. Now there's an offer from you on the table and they can take it or refuse it.
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
I recommend negotiating with them.
You may want to negotiate and sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) instead. The NDA, says that you won't disclose any of their Proprietary Technology or Intellectual Property to other entities. This protects your previous employer and allows you to work for anybody else, including their competitors.
Hey, it's their issue if they are losing a good team member to the competition. It's also reasonable that you don't disclose their Intellectual Property to their competition.
9
The company has nothing OP wants, so there is no basis for negotiation. They have no leverage. Reject their request.
– R..
yesterday
3
That's a very bold claim, since presumably the company has money, unless you want to suggest Alina doesn't want to be paid at all for anything they do. @R..
– Nij
18 hours ago
1
@Nij: Negotiating compensation for a retroactive NDA, rather than for a non-compete, comes awfully close to blackmail. I would not want anything to do with that. I did not read "negotiating" in this answer as asking for compensation, but rather as offering the NDA as a substitute for the non-compete they're asking for, when they're not entitled to either and OP has no reason to give them either.
– R..
17 hours ago
1
Blackmail would be saying they will release information unless paid. There is clearly no active intent to do so by Alima. Setting a price for the guarantee that they will not (accidentally or otherwise) release secure or privy information later is not at all the same. Negotiation of a contract normally involves any potential compensation - that's what consideration is - and would be required for a legitimate contract to exist, whatever form it happens to take.
– Nij
16 hours ago
1
@Nij - OP is already done working for them. They don't get to decide to not compensate him/her for work already done. So what money do they have to use as leverage for someone who has already completed all of their work?
– PoloHoleSet
2 hours ago
 |Â
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0
down vote
In general, when leaving a job, you should not sign willingly and blindy whatever they ask you to sign. Always check documents first, and with time to think it over and talk with a laywer. Ask for a copy beforehand.
Also as for NDAs and non-compete agreements, they are often signed by high-key and very well payed employees at the beginning of contract - think management, very high skilled employees or consultants paid their net weight in gold.
Also, usually a non-compete after leaving should be VERY well compensated.
From the tone of your question, I suppose you are in not any of those cases. I known low-key people that accepted non-compete clauses with a nominal compensation (300-500 Euros) at the beginning of the contract, because they were not experienced and thought it was "normal" - and also because they wanted the job, so beware of what you are doing - there are a lot of non-reputable firms pulling those stunts out there.
Lastly, as other say, it is quite odd you even consider their requests not when starting a job, but when ending. I would tell them to get lost in no uncertain terms.
So to sum it up, unless they are offering you 2 or 3 times your net salary after taxes for the whole duration of the non-compete agreement, there is no sense into even contemplating the idea, and even then.
PS. Such token payment I mentioned earlier is just to strenghten their case in court if the employee tries to invalidate it.
@DavidRicherby Indeed, edited the answer.
– Rui F Ribeiro
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
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8 Answers
8
active
oldest
votes
8 Answers
8
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
129
down vote
No. You gain nothing by signing and potentially limit your employment options by agreeing to the non-compete. By rights, if they were acting legitimately they would have had you sign one as part of your initial employment conditions before you even started the job. This is retrospective CYA nonsense and you should treat it as such.
If they really want you to sign, ask for a bonus in return for potentially limiting your employability. Otherwise just walk away
28
Drop the last paragraph. They don't want you to sign sufficiently much to pay you what it's worth, which is at least your full prior salary times the length of effect of the non-compete.
– R..
yesterday
10
@R.. - I don't understand why you said "drop the last paragraph", when what you're suggesting is exactly what that paragraph says -- if they want you to sign, then ask them to pay you fair market value for what you're signing. Depending on how restrictive the agreement is, full salary may be more than the actual value of what they are asking for.
– Johnny
21 hours ago
39
For anyone else wondering: CYA = cover your ass (?)
– problemofficer
20 hours ago
17
@Johnny: Further detail could make the last paragraph better rather than dropping it, but just saying "ask for a bonus" does nothing to draw attention to how astronomically huge the bonus needs to be in order for it to be deterministically better for OP rather than a gamble.
– R..
19 hours ago
21
@R.. It depends how broad a non-compete they want. If they just want you not to work for their direct competitors, they have few competitors, you didn't want to do that anyway, and it's just for a year, even just two month's salary might make it a good deal. They may just want you not to work on a particular product area (enterprise storage systems, self-driving cars, whatever) and that might not even be one you're interested in working on anymore. We don't know. The point is, the OP has to get fair value.
– David Schwartz
17 hours ago
 |Â
show 9 more comments
up vote
129
down vote
No. You gain nothing by signing and potentially limit your employment options by agreeing to the non-compete. By rights, if they were acting legitimately they would have had you sign one as part of your initial employment conditions before you even started the job. This is retrospective CYA nonsense and you should treat it as such.
If they really want you to sign, ask for a bonus in return for potentially limiting your employability. Otherwise just walk away
28
Drop the last paragraph. They don't want you to sign sufficiently much to pay you what it's worth, which is at least your full prior salary times the length of effect of the non-compete.
– R..
yesterday
10
@R.. - I don't understand why you said "drop the last paragraph", when what you're suggesting is exactly what that paragraph says -- if they want you to sign, then ask them to pay you fair market value for what you're signing. Depending on how restrictive the agreement is, full salary may be more than the actual value of what they are asking for.
– Johnny
21 hours ago
39
For anyone else wondering: CYA = cover your ass (?)
– problemofficer
20 hours ago
17
@Johnny: Further detail could make the last paragraph better rather than dropping it, but just saying "ask for a bonus" does nothing to draw attention to how astronomically huge the bonus needs to be in order for it to be deterministically better for OP rather than a gamble.
– R..
19 hours ago
21
@R.. It depends how broad a non-compete they want. If they just want you not to work for their direct competitors, they have few competitors, you didn't want to do that anyway, and it's just for a year, even just two month's salary might make it a good deal. They may just want you not to work on a particular product area (enterprise storage systems, self-driving cars, whatever) and that might not even be one you're interested in working on anymore. We don't know. The point is, the OP has to get fair value.
– David Schwartz
17 hours ago
 |Â
show 9 more comments
up vote
129
down vote
up vote
129
down vote
No. You gain nothing by signing and potentially limit your employment options by agreeing to the non-compete. By rights, if they were acting legitimately they would have had you sign one as part of your initial employment conditions before you even started the job. This is retrospective CYA nonsense and you should treat it as such.
If they really want you to sign, ask for a bonus in return for potentially limiting your employability. Otherwise just walk away
No. You gain nothing by signing and potentially limit your employment options by agreeing to the non-compete. By rights, if they were acting legitimately they would have had you sign one as part of your initial employment conditions before you even started the job. This is retrospective CYA nonsense and you should treat it as such.
If they really want you to sign, ask for a bonus in return for potentially limiting your employability. Otherwise just walk away
edited 18 hours ago
smci
2,039820
2,039820
answered yesterday
user1666620
7,85373029
7,85373029
28
Drop the last paragraph. They don't want you to sign sufficiently much to pay you what it's worth, which is at least your full prior salary times the length of effect of the non-compete.
– R..
yesterday
10
@R.. - I don't understand why you said "drop the last paragraph", when what you're suggesting is exactly what that paragraph says -- if they want you to sign, then ask them to pay you fair market value for what you're signing. Depending on how restrictive the agreement is, full salary may be more than the actual value of what they are asking for.
– Johnny
21 hours ago
39
For anyone else wondering: CYA = cover your ass (?)
– problemofficer
20 hours ago
17
@Johnny: Further detail could make the last paragraph better rather than dropping it, but just saying "ask for a bonus" does nothing to draw attention to how astronomically huge the bonus needs to be in order for it to be deterministically better for OP rather than a gamble.
– R..
19 hours ago
21
@R.. It depends how broad a non-compete they want. If they just want you not to work for their direct competitors, they have few competitors, you didn't want to do that anyway, and it's just for a year, even just two month's salary might make it a good deal. They may just want you not to work on a particular product area (enterprise storage systems, self-driving cars, whatever) and that might not even be one you're interested in working on anymore. We don't know. The point is, the OP has to get fair value.
– David Schwartz
17 hours ago
 |Â
show 9 more comments
28
Drop the last paragraph. They don't want you to sign sufficiently much to pay you what it's worth, which is at least your full prior salary times the length of effect of the non-compete.
– R..
yesterday
10
@R.. - I don't understand why you said "drop the last paragraph", when what you're suggesting is exactly what that paragraph says -- if they want you to sign, then ask them to pay you fair market value for what you're signing. Depending on how restrictive the agreement is, full salary may be more than the actual value of what they are asking for.
– Johnny
21 hours ago
39
For anyone else wondering: CYA = cover your ass (?)
– problemofficer
20 hours ago
17
@Johnny: Further detail could make the last paragraph better rather than dropping it, but just saying "ask for a bonus" does nothing to draw attention to how astronomically huge the bonus needs to be in order for it to be deterministically better for OP rather than a gamble.
– R..
19 hours ago
21
@R.. It depends how broad a non-compete they want. If they just want you not to work for their direct competitors, they have few competitors, you didn't want to do that anyway, and it's just for a year, even just two month's salary might make it a good deal. They may just want you not to work on a particular product area (enterprise storage systems, self-driving cars, whatever) and that might not even be one you're interested in working on anymore. We don't know. The point is, the OP has to get fair value.
– David Schwartz
17 hours ago
28
28
Drop the last paragraph. They don't want you to sign sufficiently much to pay you what it's worth, which is at least your full prior salary times the length of effect of the non-compete.
– R..
yesterday
Drop the last paragraph. They don't want you to sign sufficiently much to pay you what it's worth, which is at least your full prior salary times the length of effect of the non-compete.
– R..
yesterday
10
10
@R.. - I don't understand why you said "drop the last paragraph", when what you're suggesting is exactly what that paragraph says -- if they want you to sign, then ask them to pay you fair market value for what you're signing. Depending on how restrictive the agreement is, full salary may be more than the actual value of what they are asking for.
– Johnny
21 hours ago
@R.. - I don't understand why you said "drop the last paragraph", when what you're suggesting is exactly what that paragraph says -- if they want you to sign, then ask them to pay you fair market value for what you're signing. Depending on how restrictive the agreement is, full salary may be more than the actual value of what they are asking for.
– Johnny
21 hours ago
39
39
For anyone else wondering: CYA = cover your ass (?)
– problemofficer
20 hours ago
For anyone else wondering: CYA = cover your ass (?)
– problemofficer
20 hours ago
17
17
@Johnny: Further detail could make the last paragraph better rather than dropping it, but just saying "ask for a bonus" does nothing to draw attention to how astronomically huge the bonus needs to be in order for it to be deterministically better for OP rather than a gamble.
– R..
19 hours ago
@Johnny: Further detail could make the last paragraph better rather than dropping it, but just saying "ask for a bonus" does nothing to draw attention to how astronomically huge the bonus needs to be in order for it to be deterministically better for OP rather than a gamble.
– R..
19 hours ago
21
21
@R.. It depends how broad a non-compete they want. If they just want you not to work for their direct competitors, they have few competitors, you didn't want to do that anyway, and it's just for a year, even just two month's salary might make it a good deal. They may just want you not to work on a particular product area (enterprise storage systems, self-driving cars, whatever) and that might not even be one you're interested in working on anymore. We don't know. The point is, the OP has to get fair value.
– David Schwartz
17 hours ago
@R.. It depends how broad a non-compete they want. If they just want you not to work for their direct competitors, they have few competitors, you didn't want to do that anyway, and it's just for a year, even just two month's salary might make it a good deal. They may just want you not to work on a particular product area (enterprise storage systems, self-driving cars, whatever) and that might not even be one you're interested in working on anymore. We don't know. The point is, the OP has to get fair value.
– David Schwartz
17 hours ago
 |Â
show 9 more comments
up vote
39
down vote
The non-compete agreement you're being asked to sign is a contract. In many countries, forming an enforceable contract requires all five of the following:
- A lawful purpose, in which the things the contract requires of the parties don't break any laws. This would include any restrictions on whether or not the kind of contract you're being asked to sign is valid where it was executed.
- An offer, where one party makes a proposal to the other.
Consideration, where each party gives the other something in exchange for that they're getting.
Capacity, where both parties have ability to understand what's in the contract and are legally allowed to be party to it.
Acceptance, where both parties decide that the consideration they're getting for what they're giving is equitable and agree to what's in the contract, often by signing it.
The contract your company proposes has lots of consideration for them (they get the benefits of not having a former employee at a competitor) and none for you. Because they are offering you nothing in return for staying out of their industry, you have no incentive to accept what they propose. The time to have done that would have been when they were offering you a job in the first place.
The easiest route would be to reject their offer outright. You've resigned, so all they can really do at work is terminate your employment early. The worst they could do after you leave is file a malicious suit for misappropriating their trade secrets. Even if they don't win, you still lose because defending yourself will cost money and time, but they still run the risk of an expensive countersuit.
Negotiating fair consideration would require that you figure out what you would lose by abiding by their terms. If signing would force you to take a position in another field that doesn't pay as well, you should demand the difference or, if you can't work at all because of it, the full value of your salary and benefits. If the company was dumb enough to try this as you were leaving, I'd penalize them at least 25% additional to make sure they really want you out of circulation, but that's just how I do business. Whatever goes into the agreement, the consideration has to last the full duration of the time you're out of circulation and should either be paid up front or, if they stop paying you, the contract becomes void. (All of this takes time and money to arrange and is why it's easier to simply decline their offer.)
1
This is a good answer. It could be improved by mentioning that various jurisdictions have restrictions on what is enforceable in a non-compete contract and that it would be beneficial for the OP to do a bit of research to determine what is enforceable in their jurisdiction. That assumes that the OP desires to enter into negotiation, rather than just outright rejecting a non-compete contract at all. The OP should note that they loose very little by beginning such a negotiation. While it's unlikely, it's possible the OP could get more than they expect.
– Makyen
17 hours ago
1
I would add to @Makyen's comment that up to my knowledge all NCAs must have a limited time span and cannot/should-not be lifetime, i.e. banning the OP entirely from working in that sector for his entire mortal life. My jurisdiction is Europe, OP's is not specified
– usr-local-ΕΨΗΕΛΩÎÂ
10 hours ago
1
The lawyer in me likes this answer, but I would caveat it by saying the exception is where signing wouldn't cost you anything and there's a chance you might want to return to the company in the future. In that case, doing something that doesn't harm you (and is probably not legally enforceable in any case) but buys you some goodwill with the company might not be such a bad idea. If you have no immediate plans to return though, then don't impose this limit on yourself, even if you don't think it will affect you (nobody knows the future).
– delinear
2 hours ago
+1 for the elements of a contract, but can you provide a source for that?
– Aaron Hall
2 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
39
down vote
The non-compete agreement you're being asked to sign is a contract. In many countries, forming an enforceable contract requires all five of the following:
- A lawful purpose, in which the things the contract requires of the parties don't break any laws. This would include any restrictions on whether or not the kind of contract you're being asked to sign is valid where it was executed.
- An offer, where one party makes a proposal to the other.
Consideration, where each party gives the other something in exchange for that they're getting.
Capacity, where both parties have ability to understand what's in the contract and are legally allowed to be party to it.
Acceptance, where both parties decide that the consideration they're getting for what they're giving is equitable and agree to what's in the contract, often by signing it.
The contract your company proposes has lots of consideration for them (they get the benefits of not having a former employee at a competitor) and none for you. Because they are offering you nothing in return for staying out of their industry, you have no incentive to accept what they propose. The time to have done that would have been when they were offering you a job in the first place.
The easiest route would be to reject their offer outright. You've resigned, so all they can really do at work is terminate your employment early. The worst they could do after you leave is file a malicious suit for misappropriating their trade secrets. Even if they don't win, you still lose because defending yourself will cost money and time, but they still run the risk of an expensive countersuit.
Negotiating fair consideration would require that you figure out what you would lose by abiding by their terms. If signing would force you to take a position in another field that doesn't pay as well, you should demand the difference or, if you can't work at all because of it, the full value of your salary and benefits. If the company was dumb enough to try this as you were leaving, I'd penalize them at least 25% additional to make sure they really want you out of circulation, but that's just how I do business. Whatever goes into the agreement, the consideration has to last the full duration of the time you're out of circulation and should either be paid up front or, if they stop paying you, the contract becomes void. (All of this takes time and money to arrange and is why it's easier to simply decline their offer.)
1
This is a good answer. It could be improved by mentioning that various jurisdictions have restrictions on what is enforceable in a non-compete contract and that it would be beneficial for the OP to do a bit of research to determine what is enforceable in their jurisdiction. That assumes that the OP desires to enter into negotiation, rather than just outright rejecting a non-compete contract at all. The OP should note that they loose very little by beginning such a negotiation. While it's unlikely, it's possible the OP could get more than they expect.
– Makyen
17 hours ago
1
I would add to @Makyen's comment that up to my knowledge all NCAs must have a limited time span and cannot/should-not be lifetime, i.e. banning the OP entirely from working in that sector for his entire mortal life. My jurisdiction is Europe, OP's is not specified
– usr-local-ΕΨΗΕΛΩÎÂ
10 hours ago
1
The lawyer in me likes this answer, but I would caveat it by saying the exception is where signing wouldn't cost you anything and there's a chance you might want to return to the company in the future. In that case, doing something that doesn't harm you (and is probably not legally enforceable in any case) but buys you some goodwill with the company might not be such a bad idea. If you have no immediate plans to return though, then don't impose this limit on yourself, even if you don't think it will affect you (nobody knows the future).
– delinear
2 hours ago
+1 for the elements of a contract, but can you provide a source for that?
– Aaron Hall
2 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
39
down vote
up vote
39
down vote
The non-compete agreement you're being asked to sign is a contract. In many countries, forming an enforceable contract requires all five of the following:
- A lawful purpose, in which the things the contract requires of the parties don't break any laws. This would include any restrictions on whether or not the kind of contract you're being asked to sign is valid where it was executed.
- An offer, where one party makes a proposal to the other.
Consideration, where each party gives the other something in exchange for that they're getting.
Capacity, where both parties have ability to understand what's in the contract and are legally allowed to be party to it.
Acceptance, where both parties decide that the consideration they're getting for what they're giving is equitable and agree to what's in the contract, often by signing it.
The contract your company proposes has lots of consideration for them (they get the benefits of not having a former employee at a competitor) and none for you. Because they are offering you nothing in return for staying out of their industry, you have no incentive to accept what they propose. The time to have done that would have been when they were offering you a job in the first place.
The easiest route would be to reject their offer outright. You've resigned, so all they can really do at work is terminate your employment early. The worst they could do after you leave is file a malicious suit for misappropriating their trade secrets. Even if they don't win, you still lose because defending yourself will cost money and time, but they still run the risk of an expensive countersuit.
Negotiating fair consideration would require that you figure out what you would lose by abiding by their terms. If signing would force you to take a position in another field that doesn't pay as well, you should demand the difference or, if you can't work at all because of it, the full value of your salary and benefits. If the company was dumb enough to try this as you were leaving, I'd penalize them at least 25% additional to make sure they really want you out of circulation, but that's just how I do business. Whatever goes into the agreement, the consideration has to last the full duration of the time you're out of circulation and should either be paid up front or, if they stop paying you, the contract becomes void. (All of this takes time and money to arrange and is why it's easier to simply decline their offer.)
The non-compete agreement you're being asked to sign is a contract. In many countries, forming an enforceable contract requires all five of the following:
- A lawful purpose, in which the things the contract requires of the parties don't break any laws. This would include any restrictions on whether or not the kind of contract you're being asked to sign is valid where it was executed.
- An offer, where one party makes a proposal to the other.
Consideration, where each party gives the other something in exchange for that they're getting.
Capacity, where both parties have ability to understand what's in the contract and are legally allowed to be party to it.
Acceptance, where both parties decide that the consideration they're getting for what they're giving is equitable and agree to what's in the contract, often by signing it.
The contract your company proposes has lots of consideration for them (they get the benefits of not having a former employee at a competitor) and none for you. Because they are offering you nothing in return for staying out of their industry, you have no incentive to accept what they propose. The time to have done that would have been when they were offering you a job in the first place.
The easiest route would be to reject their offer outright. You've resigned, so all they can really do at work is terminate your employment early. The worst they could do after you leave is file a malicious suit for misappropriating their trade secrets. Even if they don't win, you still lose because defending yourself will cost money and time, but they still run the risk of an expensive countersuit.
Negotiating fair consideration would require that you figure out what you would lose by abiding by their terms. If signing would force you to take a position in another field that doesn't pay as well, you should demand the difference or, if you can't work at all because of it, the full value of your salary and benefits. If the company was dumb enough to try this as you were leaving, I'd penalize them at least 25% additional to make sure they really want you out of circulation, but that's just how I do business. Whatever goes into the agreement, the consideration has to last the full duration of the time you're out of circulation and should either be paid up front or, if they stop paying you, the contract becomes void. (All of this takes time and money to arrange and is why it's easier to simply decline their offer.)
edited 6 hours ago
answered yesterday
Blrfl
4,8951822
4,8951822
1
This is a good answer. It could be improved by mentioning that various jurisdictions have restrictions on what is enforceable in a non-compete contract and that it would be beneficial for the OP to do a bit of research to determine what is enforceable in their jurisdiction. That assumes that the OP desires to enter into negotiation, rather than just outright rejecting a non-compete contract at all. The OP should note that they loose very little by beginning such a negotiation. While it's unlikely, it's possible the OP could get more than they expect.
– Makyen
17 hours ago
1
I would add to @Makyen's comment that up to my knowledge all NCAs must have a limited time span and cannot/should-not be lifetime, i.e. banning the OP entirely from working in that sector for his entire mortal life. My jurisdiction is Europe, OP's is not specified
– usr-local-ΕΨΗΕΛΩÎÂ
10 hours ago
1
The lawyer in me likes this answer, but I would caveat it by saying the exception is where signing wouldn't cost you anything and there's a chance you might want to return to the company in the future. In that case, doing something that doesn't harm you (and is probably not legally enforceable in any case) but buys you some goodwill with the company might not be such a bad idea. If you have no immediate plans to return though, then don't impose this limit on yourself, even if you don't think it will affect you (nobody knows the future).
– delinear
2 hours ago
+1 for the elements of a contract, but can you provide a source for that?
– Aaron Hall
2 hours ago
add a comment |Â
1
This is a good answer. It could be improved by mentioning that various jurisdictions have restrictions on what is enforceable in a non-compete contract and that it would be beneficial for the OP to do a bit of research to determine what is enforceable in their jurisdiction. That assumes that the OP desires to enter into negotiation, rather than just outright rejecting a non-compete contract at all. The OP should note that they loose very little by beginning such a negotiation. While it's unlikely, it's possible the OP could get more than they expect.
– Makyen
17 hours ago
1
I would add to @Makyen's comment that up to my knowledge all NCAs must have a limited time span and cannot/should-not be lifetime, i.e. banning the OP entirely from working in that sector for his entire mortal life. My jurisdiction is Europe, OP's is not specified
– usr-local-ΕΨΗΕΛΩÎÂ
10 hours ago
1
The lawyer in me likes this answer, but I would caveat it by saying the exception is where signing wouldn't cost you anything and there's a chance you might want to return to the company in the future. In that case, doing something that doesn't harm you (and is probably not legally enforceable in any case) but buys you some goodwill with the company might not be such a bad idea. If you have no immediate plans to return though, then don't impose this limit on yourself, even if you don't think it will affect you (nobody knows the future).
– delinear
2 hours ago
+1 for the elements of a contract, but can you provide a source for that?
– Aaron Hall
2 hours ago
1
1
This is a good answer. It could be improved by mentioning that various jurisdictions have restrictions on what is enforceable in a non-compete contract and that it would be beneficial for the OP to do a bit of research to determine what is enforceable in their jurisdiction. That assumes that the OP desires to enter into negotiation, rather than just outright rejecting a non-compete contract at all. The OP should note that they loose very little by beginning such a negotiation. While it's unlikely, it's possible the OP could get more than they expect.
– Makyen
17 hours ago
This is a good answer. It could be improved by mentioning that various jurisdictions have restrictions on what is enforceable in a non-compete contract and that it would be beneficial for the OP to do a bit of research to determine what is enforceable in their jurisdiction. That assumes that the OP desires to enter into negotiation, rather than just outright rejecting a non-compete contract at all. The OP should note that they loose very little by beginning such a negotiation. While it's unlikely, it's possible the OP could get more than they expect.
– Makyen
17 hours ago
1
1
I would add to @Makyen's comment that up to my knowledge all NCAs must have a limited time span and cannot/should-not be lifetime, i.e. banning the OP entirely from working in that sector for his entire mortal life. My jurisdiction is Europe, OP's is not specified
– usr-local-ΕΨΗΕΛΩÎÂ
10 hours ago
I would add to @Makyen's comment that up to my knowledge all NCAs must have a limited time span and cannot/should-not be lifetime, i.e. banning the OP entirely from working in that sector for his entire mortal life. My jurisdiction is Europe, OP's is not specified
– usr-local-ΕΨΗΕΛΩÎÂ
10 hours ago
1
1
The lawyer in me likes this answer, but I would caveat it by saying the exception is where signing wouldn't cost you anything and there's a chance you might want to return to the company in the future. In that case, doing something that doesn't harm you (and is probably not legally enforceable in any case) but buys you some goodwill with the company might not be such a bad idea. If you have no immediate plans to return though, then don't impose this limit on yourself, even if you don't think it will affect you (nobody knows the future).
– delinear
2 hours ago
The lawyer in me likes this answer, but I would caveat it by saying the exception is where signing wouldn't cost you anything and there's a chance you might want to return to the company in the future. In that case, doing something that doesn't harm you (and is probably not legally enforceable in any case) but buys you some goodwill with the company might not be such a bad idea. If you have no immediate plans to return though, then don't impose this limit on yourself, even if you don't think it will affect you (nobody knows the future).
– delinear
2 hours ago
+1 for the elements of a contract, but can you provide a source for that?
– Aaron Hall
2 hours ago
+1 for the elements of a contract, but can you provide a source for that?
– Aaron Hall
2 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
38
down vote
There is no reason for you to sign this. You cannot benefit in any way from signing, but you might lose big time if you sign. As a consequence, do NOT sign anything under any circumstances.
8
I wouldn't say "under any circumstances". The company could offer an appropriate amount of money which compensates the OP for signing the non-compete contract. It is, however, very unlikely that the company is interested in providing a level of compensation that is reasonable wrt. the value that the OP is giving up. The OP should also become aware of what is legally permitted/enforceable wrt. non-compete contracts in their jurisdiction.
– Makyen
17 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
38
down vote
There is no reason for you to sign this. You cannot benefit in any way from signing, but you might lose big time if you sign. As a consequence, do NOT sign anything under any circumstances.
8
I wouldn't say "under any circumstances". The company could offer an appropriate amount of money which compensates the OP for signing the non-compete contract. It is, however, very unlikely that the company is interested in providing a level of compensation that is reasonable wrt. the value that the OP is giving up. The OP should also become aware of what is legally permitted/enforceable wrt. non-compete contracts in their jurisdiction.
– Makyen
17 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
38
down vote
up vote
38
down vote
There is no reason for you to sign this. You cannot benefit in any way from signing, but you might lose big time if you sign. As a consequence, do NOT sign anything under any circumstances.
There is no reason for you to sign this. You cannot benefit in any way from signing, but you might lose big time if you sign. As a consequence, do NOT sign anything under any circumstances.
answered yesterday
gnasher729
77.3k32142246
77.3k32142246
8
I wouldn't say "under any circumstances". The company could offer an appropriate amount of money which compensates the OP for signing the non-compete contract. It is, however, very unlikely that the company is interested in providing a level of compensation that is reasonable wrt. the value that the OP is giving up. The OP should also become aware of what is legally permitted/enforceable wrt. non-compete contracts in their jurisdiction.
– Makyen
17 hours ago
add a comment |Â
8
I wouldn't say "under any circumstances". The company could offer an appropriate amount of money which compensates the OP for signing the non-compete contract. It is, however, very unlikely that the company is interested in providing a level of compensation that is reasonable wrt. the value that the OP is giving up. The OP should also become aware of what is legally permitted/enforceable wrt. non-compete contracts in their jurisdiction.
– Makyen
17 hours ago
8
8
I wouldn't say "under any circumstances". The company could offer an appropriate amount of money which compensates the OP for signing the non-compete contract. It is, however, very unlikely that the company is interested in providing a level of compensation that is reasonable wrt. the value that the OP is giving up. The OP should also become aware of what is legally permitted/enforceable wrt. non-compete contracts in their jurisdiction.
– Makyen
17 hours ago
I wouldn't say "under any circumstances". The company could offer an appropriate amount of money which compensates the OP for signing the non-compete contract. It is, however, very unlikely that the company is interested in providing a level of compensation that is reasonable wrt. the value that the OP is giving up. The OP should also become aware of what is legally permitted/enforceable wrt. non-compete contracts in their jurisdiction.
– Makyen
17 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
8
down vote
General rule of thumb when you have resigned is to ignore anything that does not palpably benefit you. This would include anything like signing documents.
So unless it includes a mention of recompense then don't enter into any dialogue at all. If you haven't left yet and you're forced to answer you just put it off. If you have left you just ignore it.
add a comment |Â
up vote
8
down vote
General rule of thumb when you have resigned is to ignore anything that does not palpably benefit you. This would include anything like signing documents.
So unless it includes a mention of recompense then don't enter into any dialogue at all. If you haven't left yet and you're forced to answer you just put it off. If you have left you just ignore it.
add a comment |Â
up vote
8
down vote
up vote
8
down vote
General rule of thumb when you have resigned is to ignore anything that does not palpably benefit you. This would include anything like signing documents.
So unless it includes a mention of recompense then don't enter into any dialogue at all. If you haven't left yet and you're forced to answer you just put it off. If you have left you just ignore it.
General rule of thumb when you have resigned is to ignore anything that does not palpably benefit you. This would include anything like signing documents.
So unless it includes a mention of recompense then don't enter into any dialogue at all. If you haven't left yet and you're forced to answer you just put it off. If you have left you just ignore it.
answered 15 hours ago


Kilisi
104k57234408
104k57234408
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
TL;DR
You're under no obligation to do so. There are reasons you might want to, and reasons you might not. But they should have handled this a lot earlier, trying to do it now is a bit unprofessional of them. Don't sign anything that isn't significantly time-limited (the longest I've ever seen was five years, which I negotiated down to two; six months is more common in my experience, YMMV). In any case, be polite, and also firm.
Reasons not to sign it
It limits your employment options: If you get an employment offer from a direct competitor of theirs, you can't take it. Only you know whether that's a significant limitation or an insignificant one. (I've left jobs where it would have been significant, and also ones where it would have been insignificant.)
Hassle: If you take a job with a company you thought wasn't a direct competitor of theirs, but they think it is, they may hassle you about it. ("hassle" could be anything from repeated contacts making you uncomfortable to suing you.)
Reasons to sign it
Remaining on good terms: If you've left on good terms, refusing to do this now may harm that.
Compensation: They're asking you to do something that may limit your choices; it's perfectly reasonable to ask for compensation for that, though it's hard to imagine getting enough to make it worthwhile, and naturally you'll want to avoid giving them the impression you're blackmailing them. (Negotiating compensation for something like this is not blackmail, but that doesn't affect their perception of it.)
Other Notes
These things are usually time-limited. If you decide to do it, make sure it's time-limited in a way you're comfortable with.
If you decide not to do it, I'd make a point of doing so very politely. Along the lines of:
I understand why you'd want that, but I'm afraid I don't think I can. Although I have no specific plans to work for a competitor of yours, and I certainly have no intention of doing anything unprofessional, I need to keep my options open.
(Obviously, if you've resigned to go work for a competitor, you have to remove the first bit of that.)
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
TL;DR
You're under no obligation to do so. There are reasons you might want to, and reasons you might not. But they should have handled this a lot earlier, trying to do it now is a bit unprofessional of them. Don't sign anything that isn't significantly time-limited (the longest I've ever seen was five years, which I negotiated down to two; six months is more common in my experience, YMMV). In any case, be polite, and also firm.
Reasons not to sign it
It limits your employment options: If you get an employment offer from a direct competitor of theirs, you can't take it. Only you know whether that's a significant limitation or an insignificant one. (I've left jobs where it would have been significant, and also ones where it would have been insignificant.)
Hassle: If you take a job with a company you thought wasn't a direct competitor of theirs, but they think it is, they may hassle you about it. ("hassle" could be anything from repeated contacts making you uncomfortable to suing you.)
Reasons to sign it
Remaining on good terms: If you've left on good terms, refusing to do this now may harm that.
Compensation: They're asking you to do something that may limit your choices; it's perfectly reasonable to ask for compensation for that, though it's hard to imagine getting enough to make it worthwhile, and naturally you'll want to avoid giving them the impression you're blackmailing them. (Negotiating compensation for something like this is not blackmail, but that doesn't affect their perception of it.)
Other Notes
These things are usually time-limited. If you decide to do it, make sure it's time-limited in a way you're comfortable with.
If you decide not to do it, I'd make a point of doing so very politely. Along the lines of:
I understand why you'd want that, but I'm afraid I don't think I can. Although I have no specific plans to work for a competitor of yours, and I certainly have no intention of doing anything unprofessional, I need to keep my options open.
(Obviously, if you've resigned to go work for a competitor, you have to remove the first bit of that.)
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
up vote
4
down vote
TL;DR
You're under no obligation to do so. There are reasons you might want to, and reasons you might not. But they should have handled this a lot earlier, trying to do it now is a bit unprofessional of them. Don't sign anything that isn't significantly time-limited (the longest I've ever seen was five years, which I negotiated down to two; six months is more common in my experience, YMMV). In any case, be polite, and also firm.
Reasons not to sign it
It limits your employment options: If you get an employment offer from a direct competitor of theirs, you can't take it. Only you know whether that's a significant limitation or an insignificant one. (I've left jobs where it would have been significant, and also ones where it would have been insignificant.)
Hassle: If you take a job with a company you thought wasn't a direct competitor of theirs, but they think it is, they may hassle you about it. ("hassle" could be anything from repeated contacts making you uncomfortable to suing you.)
Reasons to sign it
Remaining on good terms: If you've left on good terms, refusing to do this now may harm that.
Compensation: They're asking you to do something that may limit your choices; it's perfectly reasonable to ask for compensation for that, though it's hard to imagine getting enough to make it worthwhile, and naturally you'll want to avoid giving them the impression you're blackmailing them. (Negotiating compensation for something like this is not blackmail, but that doesn't affect their perception of it.)
Other Notes
These things are usually time-limited. If you decide to do it, make sure it's time-limited in a way you're comfortable with.
If you decide not to do it, I'd make a point of doing so very politely. Along the lines of:
I understand why you'd want that, but I'm afraid I don't think I can. Although I have no specific plans to work for a competitor of yours, and I certainly have no intention of doing anything unprofessional, I need to keep my options open.
(Obviously, if you've resigned to go work for a competitor, you have to remove the first bit of that.)
TL;DR
You're under no obligation to do so. There are reasons you might want to, and reasons you might not. But they should have handled this a lot earlier, trying to do it now is a bit unprofessional of them. Don't sign anything that isn't significantly time-limited (the longest I've ever seen was five years, which I negotiated down to two; six months is more common in my experience, YMMV). In any case, be polite, and also firm.
Reasons not to sign it
It limits your employment options: If you get an employment offer from a direct competitor of theirs, you can't take it. Only you know whether that's a significant limitation or an insignificant one. (I've left jobs where it would have been significant, and also ones where it would have been insignificant.)
Hassle: If you take a job with a company you thought wasn't a direct competitor of theirs, but they think it is, they may hassle you about it. ("hassle" could be anything from repeated contacts making you uncomfortable to suing you.)
Reasons to sign it
Remaining on good terms: If you've left on good terms, refusing to do this now may harm that.
Compensation: They're asking you to do something that may limit your choices; it's perfectly reasonable to ask for compensation for that, though it's hard to imagine getting enough to make it worthwhile, and naturally you'll want to avoid giving them the impression you're blackmailing them. (Negotiating compensation for something like this is not blackmail, but that doesn't affect their perception of it.)
Other Notes
These things are usually time-limited. If you decide to do it, make sure it's time-limited in a way you're comfortable with.
If you decide not to do it, I'd make a point of doing so very politely. Along the lines of:
I understand why you'd want that, but I'm afraid I don't think I can. Although I have no specific plans to work for a competitor of yours, and I certainly have no intention of doing anything unprofessional, I need to keep my options open.
(Obviously, if you've resigned to go work for a competitor, you have to remove the first bit of that.)
edited 1 hour ago
answered 10 hours ago
T.J. Crowder
1,202610
1,202610
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
While my first instinct agrees with the other question, i.e. "why would you do that?" there is also another way to approach the question:
A contract (and this is a contract) is an agreement between two parties where both parties believe to have an advantage from signing over not signing.
So flat out ask them what they offer you for signing. Such agreements are typically signed at the beginning of an employment relationship, where your advantage is that you get the job and in jobs where the company wants you more than you want them it is usually part of the compensation, or in simple terms, they pay you for it.
Make a simple calculation what the non-compete could cost you in terms of opportunities you must forfeit. If they offer a compensation higher than this, the deal is advantageous for you and you could (but don't have to) sign it. If they offer lower, state factually that their offer is not high enough and refuse.
This shifts the discussion from "stubborn" to "greedy", but greedy is a trait that businesses can deal with. Or in other words: They can solve the problem simply by offering you enough money. And if they don't offer enough, it is not you being stubborn, it is them being cheap.
Approaching the question from this angle allows you to turn the tables on them. Now there's an offer from you on the table and they can take it or refuse it.
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
While my first instinct agrees with the other question, i.e. "why would you do that?" there is also another way to approach the question:
A contract (and this is a contract) is an agreement between two parties where both parties believe to have an advantage from signing over not signing.
So flat out ask them what they offer you for signing. Such agreements are typically signed at the beginning of an employment relationship, where your advantage is that you get the job and in jobs where the company wants you more than you want them it is usually part of the compensation, or in simple terms, they pay you for it.
Make a simple calculation what the non-compete could cost you in terms of opportunities you must forfeit. If they offer a compensation higher than this, the deal is advantageous for you and you could (but don't have to) sign it. If they offer lower, state factually that their offer is not high enough and refuse.
This shifts the discussion from "stubborn" to "greedy", but greedy is a trait that businesses can deal with. Or in other words: They can solve the problem simply by offering you enough money. And if they don't offer enough, it is not you being stubborn, it is them being cheap.
Approaching the question from this angle allows you to turn the tables on them. Now there's an offer from you on the table and they can take it or refuse it.
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
While my first instinct agrees with the other question, i.e. "why would you do that?" there is also another way to approach the question:
A contract (and this is a contract) is an agreement between two parties where both parties believe to have an advantage from signing over not signing.
So flat out ask them what they offer you for signing. Such agreements are typically signed at the beginning of an employment relationship, where your advantage is that you get the job and in jobs where the company wants you more than you want them it is usually part of the compensation, or in simple terms, they pay you for it.
Make a simple calculation what the non-compete could cost you in terms of opportunities you must forfeit. If they offer a compensation higher than this, the deal is advantageous for you and you could (but don't have to) sign it. If they offer lower, state factually that their offer is not high enough and refuse.
This shifts the discussion from "stubborn" to "greedy", but greedy is a trait that businesses can deal with. Or in other words: They can solve the problem simply by offering you enough money. And if they don't offer enough, it is not you being stubborn, it is them being cheap.
Approaching the question from this angle allows you to turn the tables on them. Now there's an offer from you on the table and they can take it or refuse it.
While my first instinct agrees with the other question, i.e. "why would you do that?" there is also another way to approach the question:
A contract (and this is a contract) is an agreement between two parties where both parties believe to have an advantage from signing over not signing.
So flat out ask them what they offer you for signing. Such agreements are typically signed at the beginning of an employment relationship, where your advantage is that you get the job and in jobs where the company wants you more than you want them it is usually part of the compensation, or in simple terms, they pay you for it.
Make a simple calculation what the non-compete could cost you in terms of opportunities you must forfeit. If they offer a compensation higher than this, the deal is advantageous for you and you could (but don't have to) sign it. If they offer lower, state factually that their offer is not high enough and refuse.
This shifts the discussion from "stubborn" to "greedy", but greedy is a trait that businesses can deal with. Or in other words: They can solve the problem simply by offering you enough money. And if they don't offer enough, it is not you being stubborn, it is them being cheap.
Approaching the question from this angle allows you to turn the tables on them. Now there's an offer from you on the table and they can take it or refuse it.
answered 10 hours ago
Tom
2,276514
2,276514
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
I recommend negotiating with them.
You may want to negotiate and sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) instead. The NDA, says that you won't disclose any of their Proprietary Technology or Intellectual Property to other entities. This protects your previous employer and allows you to work for anybody else, including their competitors.
Hey, it's their issue if they are losing a good team member to the competition. It's also reasonable that you don't disclose their Intellectual Property to their competition.
9
The company has nothing OP wants, so there is no basis for negotiation. They have no leverage. Reject their request.
– R..
yesterday
3
That's a very bold claim, since presumably the company has money, unless you want to suggest Alina doesn't want to be paid at all for anything they do. @R..
– Nij
18 hours ago
1
@Nij: Negotiating compensation for a retroactive NDA, rather than for a non-compete, comes awfully close to blackmail. I would not want anything to do with that. I did not read "negotiating" in this answer as asking for compensation, but rather as offering the NDA as a substitute for the non-compete they're asking for, when they're not entitled to either and OP has no reason to give them either.
– R..
17 hours ago
1
Blackmail would be saying they will release information unless paid. There is clearly no active intent to do so by Alima. Setting a price for the guarantee that they will not (accidentally or otherwise) release secure or privy information later is not at all the same. Negotiation of a contract normally involves any potential compensation - that's what consideration is - and would be required for a legitimate contract to exist, whatever form it happens to take.
– Nij
16 hours ago
1
@Nij - OP is already done working for them. They don't get to decide to not compensate him/her for work already done. So what money do they have to use as leverage for someone who has already completed all of their work?
– PoloHoleSet
2 hours ago
 |Â
show 10 more comments
up vote
0
down vote
I recommend negotiating with them.
You may want to negotiate and sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) instead. The NDA, says that you won't disclose any of their Proprietary Technology or Intellectual Property to other entities. This protects your previous employer and allows you to work for anybody else, including their competitors.
Hey, it's their issue if they are losing a good team member to the competition. It's also reasonable that you don't disclose their Intellectual Property to their competition.
9
The company has nothing OP wants, so there is no basis for negotiation. They have no leverage. Reject their request.
– R..
yesterday
3
That's a very bold claim, since presumably the company has money, unless you want to suggest Alina doesn't want to be paid at all for anything they do. @R..
– Nij
18 hours ago
1
@Nij: Negotiating compensation for a retroactive NDA, rather than for a non-compete, comes awfully close to blackmail. I would not want anything to do with that. I did not read "negotiating" in this answer as asking for compensation, but rather as offering the NDA as a substitute for the non-compete they're asking for, when they're not entitled to either and OP has no reason to give them either.
– R..
17 hours ago
1
Blackmail would be saying they will release information unless paid. There is clearly no active intent to do so by Alima. Setting a price for the guarantee that they will not (accidentally or otherwise) release secure or privy information later is not at all the same. Negotiation of a contract normally involves any potential compensation - that's what consideration is - and would be required for a legitimate contract to exist, whatever form it happens to take.
– Nij
16 hours ago
1
@Nij - OP is already done working for them. They don't get to decide to not compensate him/her for work already done. So what money do they have to use as leverage for someone who has already completed all of their work?
– PoloHoleSet
2 hours ago
 |Â
show 10 more comments
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
I recommend negotiating with them.
You may want to negotiate and sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) instead. The NDA, says that you won't disclose any of their Proprietary Technology or Intellectual Property to other entities. This protects your previous employer and allows you to work for anybody else, including their competitors.
Hey, it's their issue if they are losing a good team member to the competition. It's also reasonable that you don't disclose their Intellectual Property to their competition.
I recommend negotiating with them.
You may want to negotiate and sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) instead. The NDA, says that you won't disclose any of their Proprietary Technology or Intellectual Property to other entities. This protects your previous employer and allows you to work for anybody else, including their competitors.
Hey, it's their issue if they are losing a good team member to the competition. It's also reasonable that you don't disclose their Intellectual Property to their competition.
answered yesterday
Thomas Matthews
26713
26713
9
The company has nothing OP wants, so there is no basis for negotiation. They have no leverage. Reject their request.
– R..
yesterday
3
That's a very bold claim, since presumably the company has money, unless you want to suggest Alina doesn't want to be paid at all for anything they do. @R..
– Nij
18 hours ago
1
@Nij: Negotiating compensation for a retroactive NDA, rather than for a non-compete, comes awfully close to blackmail. I would not want anything to do with that. I did not read "negotiating" in this answer as asking for compensation, but rather as offering the NDA as a substitute for the non-compete they're asking for, when they're not entitled to either and OP has no reason to give them either.
– R..
17 hours ago
1
Blackmail would be saying they will release information unless paid. There is clearly no active intent to do so by Alima. Setting a price for the guarantee that they will not (accidentally or otherwise) release secure or privy information later is not at all the same. Negotiation of a contract normally involves any potential compensation - that's what consideration is - and would be required for a legitimate contract to exist, whatever form it happens to take.
– Nij
16 hours ago
1
@Nij - OP is already done working for them. They don't get to decide to not compensate him/her for work already done. So what money do they have to use as leverage for someone who has already completed all of their work?
– PoloHoleSet
2 hours ago
 |Â
show 10 more comments
9
The company has nothing OP wants, so there is no basis for negotiation. They have no leverage. Reject their request.
– R..
yesterday
3
That's a very bold claim, since presumably the company has money, unless you want to suggest Alina doesn't want to be paid at all for anything they do. @R..
– Nij
18 hours ago
1
@Nij: Negotiating compensation for a retroactive NDA, rather than for a non-compete, comes awfully close to blackmail. I would not want anything to do with that. I did not read "negotiating" in this answer as asking for compensation, but rather as offering the NDA as a substitute for the non-compete they're asking for, when they're not entitled to either and OP has no reason to give them either.
– R..
17 hours ago
1
Blackmail would be saying they will release information unless paid. There is clearly no active intent to do so by Alima. Setting a price for the guarantee that they will not (accidentally or otherwise) release secure or privy information later is not at all the same. Negotiation of a contract normally involves any potential compensation - that's what consideration is - and would be required for a legitimate contract to exist, whatever form it happens to take.
– Nij
16 hours ago
1
@Nij - OP is already done working for them. They don't get to decide to not compensate him/her for work already done. So what money do they have to use as leverage for someone who has already completed all of their work?
– PoloHoleSet
2 hours ago
9
9
The company has nothing OP wants, so there is no basis for negotiation. They have no leverage. Reject their request.
– R..
yesterday
The company has nothing OP wants, so there is no basis for negotiation. They have no leverage. Reject their request.
– R..
yesterday
3
3
That's a very bold claim, since presumably the company has money, unless you want to suggest Alina doesn't want to be paid at all for anything they do. @R..
– Nij
18 hours ago
That's a very bold claim, since presumably the company has money, unless you want to suggest Alina doesn't want to be paid at all for anything they do. @R..
– Nij
18 hours ago
1
1
@Nij: Negotiating compensation for a retroactive NDA, rather than for a non-compete, comes awfully close to blackmail. I would not want anything to do with that. I did not read "negotiating" in this answer as asking for compensation, but rather as offering the NDA as a substitute for the non-compete they're asking for, when they're not entitled to either and OP has no reason to give them either.
– R..
17 hours ago
@Nij: Negotiating compensation for a retroactive NDA, rather than for a non-compete, comes awfully close to blackmail. I would not want anything to do with that. I did not read "negotiating" in this answer as asking for compensation, but rather as offering the NDA as a substitute for the non-compete they're asking for, when they're not entitled to either and OP has no reason to give them either.
– R..
17 hours ago
1
1
Blackmail would be saying they will release information unless paid. There is clearly no active intent to do so by Alima. Setting a price for the guarantee that they will not (accidentally or otherwise) release secure or privy information later is not at all the same. Negotiation of a contract normally involves any potential compensation - that's what consideration is - and would be required for a legitimate contract to exist, whatever form it happens to take.
– Nij
16 hours ago
Blackmail would be saying they will release information unless paid. There is clearly no active intent to do so by Alima. Setting a price for the guarantee that they will not (accidentally or otherwise) release secure or privy information later is not at all the same. Negotiation of a contract normally involves any potential compensation - that's what consideration is - and would be required for a legitimate contract to exist, whatever form it happens to take.
– Nij
16 hours ago
1
1
@Nij - OP is already done working for them. They don't get to decide to not compensate him/her for work already done. So what money do they have to use as leverage for someone who has already completed all of their work?
– PoloHoleSet
2 hours ago
@Nij - OP is already done working for them. They don't get to decide to not compensate him/her for work already done. So what money do they have to use as leverage for someone who has already completed all of their work?
– PoloHoleSet
2 hours ago
 |Â
show 10 more comments
up vote
0
down vote
In general, when leaving a job, you should not sign willingly and blindy whatever they ask you to sign. Always check documents first, and with time to think it over and talk with a laywer. Ask for a copy beforehand.
Also as for NDAs and non-compete agreements, they are often signed by high-key and very well payed employees at the beginning of contract - think management, very high skilled employees or consultants paid their net weight in gold.
Also, usually a non-compete after leaving should be VERY well compensated.
From the tone of your question, I suppose you are in not any of those cases. I known low-key people that accepted non-compete clauses with a nominal compensation (300-500 Euros) at the beginning of the contract, because they were not experienced and thought it was "normal" - and also because they wanted the job, so beware of what you are doing - there are a lot of non-reputable firms pulling those stunts out there.
Lastly, as other say, it is quite odd you even consider their requests not when starting a job, but when ending. I would tell them to get lost in no uncertain terms.
So to sum it up, unless they are offering you 2 or 3 times your net salary after taxes for the whole duration of the non-compete agreement, there is no sense into even contemplating the idea, and even then.
PS. Such token payment I mentioned earlier is just to strenghten their case in court if the employee tries to invalidate it.
@DavidRicherby Indeed, edited the answer.
– Rui F Ribeiro
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
In general, when leaving a job, you should not sign willingly and blindy whatever they ask you to sign. Always check documents first, and with time to think it over and talk with a laywer. Ask for a copy beforehand.
Also as for NDAs and non-compete agreements, they are often signed by high-key and very well payed employees at the beginning of contract - think management, very high skilled employees or consultants paid their net weight in gold.
Also, usually a non-compete after leaving should be VERY well compensated.
From the tone of your question, I suppose you are in not any of those cases. I known low-key people that accepted non-compete clauses with a nominal compensation (300-500 Euros) at the beginning of the contract, because they were not experienced and thought it was "normal" - and also because they wanted the job, so beware of what you are doing - there are a lot of non-reputable firms pulling those stunts out there.
Lastly, as other say, it is quite odd you even consider their requests not when starting a job, but when ending. I would tell them to get lost in no uncertain terms.
So to sum it up, unless they are offering you 2 or 3 times your net salary after taxes for the whole duration of the non-compete agreement, there is no sense into even contemplating the idea, and even then.
PS. Such token payment I mentioned earlier is just to strenghten their case in court if the employee tries to invalidate it.
@DavidRicherby Indeed, edited the answer.
– Rui F Ribeiro
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
In general, when leaving a job, you should not sign willingly and blindy whatever they ask you to sign. Always check documents first, and with time to think it over and talk with a laywer. Ask for a copy beforehand.
Also as for NDAs and non-compete agreements, they are often signed by high-key and very well payed employees at the beginning of contract - think management, very high skilled employees or consultants paid their net weight in gold.
Also, usually a non-compete after leaving should be VERY well compensated.
From the tone of your question, I suppose you are in not any of those cases. I known low-key people that accepted non-compete clauses with a nominal compensation (300-500 Euros) at the beginning of the contract, because they were not experienced and thought it was "normal" - and also because they wanted the job, so beware of what you are doing - there are a lot of non-reputable firms pulling those stunts out there.
Lastly, as other say, it is quite odd you even consider their requests not when starting a job, but when ending. I would tell them to get lost in no uncertain terms.
So to sum it up, unless they are offering you 2 or 3 times your net salary after taxes for the whole duration of the non-compete agreement, there is no sense into even contemplating the idea, and even then.
PS. Such token payment I mentioned earlier is just to strenghten their case in court if the employee tries to invalidate it.
In general, when leaving a job, you should not sign willingly and blindy whatever they ask you to sign. Always check documents first, and with time to think it over and talk with a laywer. Ask for a copy beforehand.
Also as for NDAs and non-compete agreements, they are often signed by high-key and very well payed employees at the beginning of contract - think management, very high skilled employees or consultants paid their net weight in gold.
Also, usually a non-compete after leaving should be VERY well compensated.
From the tone of your question, I suppose you are in not any of those cases. I known low-key people that accepted non-compete clauses with a nominal compensation (300-500 Euros) at the beginning of the contract, because they were not experienced and thought it was "normal" - and also because they wanted the job, so beware of what you are doing - there are a lot of non-reputable firms pulling those stunts out there.
Lastly, as other say, it is quite odd you even consider their requests not when starting a job, but when ending. I would tell them to get lost in no uncertain terms.
So to sum it up, unless they are offering you 2 or 3 times your net salary after taxes for the whole duration of the non-compete agreement, there is no sense into even contemplating the idea, and even then.
PS. Such token payment I mentioned earlier is just to strenghten their case in court if the employee tries to invalidate it.
edited 1 hour ago
answered 5 hours ago
Rui F Ribeiro
3,5531021
3,5531021
@DavidRicherby Indeed, edited the answer.
– Rui F Ribeiro
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
@DavidRicherby Indeed, edited the answer.
– Rui F Ribeiro
1 hour ago
@DavidRicherby Indeed, edited the answer.
– Rui F Ribeiro
1 hour ago
@DavidRicherby Indeed, edited the answer.
– Rui F Ribeiro
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
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65
Are they offering you something to sign the non-compete?
– user1666620
yesterday
7
No, they are not offering anything in return
– Alima Secdi
yesterday
113
If they don't offer anything in return, there's no point in signing it, is there?
– Mast
yesterday
11
Depending on your legal jurisdiction, signing a non-compete without anything in return would be null and void, given that there is no consideration. Additionally, a non-compete normally requires that you be paid in full for the duration of your non-compete (a man has got to eat).
– Aron
yesterday
17
Wait, when you say you "don't have a formal contract" do you mean you never had a written contract while you were working there? If that's the case, why start now?
– Steve-O
20 hours ago