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Post by Hulkamaniac on Nov 19, 2007 10:29:09 GMT -5
People on here have probably heard me bitch about my job and how I hate it on a number of occassions. I've actually been very actively looking lately and have one company that's very, very interested in me. I'm also very, very interested in the company. The only problem is they want me to sign a non-compete agreement.
Basically the agreement states that when I leave the company (either by quitting or being fired) I will not compete with them directly or indirectly for 3 years. This scares me as I feel it technically ties me to them for the rest of my career unless I change fields. This company is an IT company and they do all facets of IT work. They do help desk, system design, network administration, IT purchasing, etc... They pretty much do it all. Even leaving for some place like Best Buy or Compusa could probably be construed as competing and I'm screwed. I checked online and my state (KS) generally holds that these agreements are legal as long as they're "reasonable" (whatever that means). Anyone else ever had to sign one of these or have any idea how hard they are to get out of?
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Post by Cult Member BriGuy on Nov 19, 2007 10:32:47 GMT -5
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Post by spawnsyxx9 on Nov 19, 2007 12:42:55 GMT -5
A lot of people are forced to sign those forms. What you want to do is realize whether you see portential in that job and will you be staying with them for a while. At the same time, you have to realize that even if you do a job that is similar but not ENTIRELY the same as the one that is asking you to sign that form, then you are in the clear.
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Post by ogsean on Nov 19, 2007 19:10:15 GMT -5
That doesn't sound standard. Most non-compete agreements (I'm coming from a different field, filmmaking, so it could be completely different) only mean you can't make new developments that would compromise the business you just left.
But if you can't work for any other IT firm, I wouldn't sign it, because you're basically throwing your career away whenever you separate from this company (even if that's 30 years down the road).
Still, I don't know enough to say don't do it, I would consult a lawyer first.
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Post by Hulkamaniac on Nov 20, 2007 1:03:47 GMT -5
I talked to another IT HR person for another company. They basically said they'd never heard of 3 yrs for just an entry level tech (which is what I would be) and hadn't heard of anything that wide spread. They require 1 yr at their job and only do 3 for high level execs who they don't want to leave and start their own companies. I'm definitely going to have to get a copy of this and have someone look at it before I sign.
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JoSh
Main Eventer
WF 10 Year Member
Joined on: Jun 25, 2002 18:34:26 GMT -5
Posts: 1,724
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Post by JoSh on Nov 20, 2007 1:33:28 GMT -5
1 year for a tech doing gnereal IT work ? That's crazy. It's a good scare tactic I suppose to only get serious people applying for the job. I wouldn't agree to anything over 60 days. You are doing general tech work. Other than knwoing the clients of the company I can't think of any other sensitive info you would have in that specific job capacity.
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Post by ogsean on Nov 20, 2007 4:58:18 GMT -5
I talked to another IT HR person for another company. They basically said they'd never heard of 3 yrs for just an entry level tech (which is what I would be) and hadn't heard of anything that wide spread. They require 1 yr at their job and only do 3 for high level execs who they don't want to leave and start their own companies. I'm definitely going to have to get a copy of this and have someone look at it before I sign. Yeah, that's what I thought. I mean, personally, I'm only familiar with film non-compete contracts, which means that you agree that any ideas you get while working for a certain company can't be used by you for usually only a year after you stop working there, which is understandable, because it's technically their property since you came up with it under them. But you're in a different field completely, I just don't understand that. Unless you're just that damn good man, they know you'll make the next OS that will change the future of computing. |
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Post by Hulkamaniac on Nov 20, 2007 14:10:56 GMT -5
Just an update. The place wanting me to sign the three year non-compete called yesterday while I was asleep (I work 3rd). I'm sure it's probably reference a job offer. I don't really want to call them back until tomorrow as I've got a few other job things in the air right now. I'm nervous as it's been about 5 years since I was seriously in a job hunt, but optimistic that I'm getting so many interviews and so much interest.
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Post by kanekilledvince on Nov 21, 2007 18:36:34 GMT -5
IT? What the hell.. Didn't you used to be some how involved with Law Enforcement  |
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Post by CM Poor on Nov 22, 2007 8:14:13 GMT -5
IT? What the hell.. Didn't you used to be some how involved with Law Enforcement Dispatch.  |
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I dont know good luck