How A Non-Competition Agreement Affects An Employee Who Wants To Seek A New Job

In order to minimize the risk of litigation against the employee it is best to disclose the previous non-competition agreement to the potential employer and to seek assurances of indemnification. With the promise of protection if the “old” employer takes legal action the employee has relatively low levels of risk.

Employers and organizations are getting quite astute when negotiating employment agreements. You often will see reference to previous non-competition agreements now within the terms of an employment agreement. This works as an assurance for the new employer there are no restrictions that might prevent them from working for the new organization.

On the flipside of the coin, employees want to make sure they have disclosed any restrictions they may have when leaving an organization. Indemnification against potential legal action may be negotiable especially where the employee has rare or unique skills that the organization needs.

If the first organization seeks to prevent their former employee from working for the new organization, they usually do so by beginning an injunction against the employee and asking the court to enforce their non-competition agreement. The new employer may decide to defend the action, looking for a decision by the court that the non-competition agreement is not enforceable

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If you, or someone you care about, is dealing with mployment law issues in the Ottawa, Ontario Region, contact Law Office of elynda Layton.