The Legitimate Business Interests Test An employer cannot enforce a non-compete agreement against an employee unless it can demonstrate a legitimate interest that needs to be protected. In most cases, the only legitimate interest that justifies the enforcement of a non-compete clause is a trade secret.
Non-Compete Agreements are generally not enforceable unless they're used to protect trade secrets or a purchaser of a business, recover education or training expenses from an employee of less than two years, or restrict executive and management personnel or professional staff to those personnel ( C.R.S.
An employer can file a lawsuit and ask a court to enforce the non-compete and require the employee to follow its terms. Some employers may send a letter to the employee or to the employee's new employer threatening to file a lawsuit to discourage employees from taking a new job.
Non-Competitive Activity at New Employer: One of the most straightforward ways to overcome a noncompete is by ensuring that your new role with a different employer is in a non-competitive capacity. If you're not engaging in activities that directly compete with your former employer's business, you may be in the clear.
Under case law, non-competes will only be enforceable if they are no wider than reasonably necessary to protect a legitimate interest (e.g. protection of confidential information or customer contacts) and are not contrary to the public interest.
Under case law, non-competes will only be enforceable if they are no wider than reasonably necessary to protect a legitimate interest (e.g. protection of confidential information or customer contacts) and are not contrary to the public interest.
compete is only allowed and enforceable to the extent it (1) is necessary to protect the employer's legitimate interests, (2) does not impose an undue hardship on the employee, (3) does not harm the public, and (4) is reasonable in time period and geographic scope.
If an employee breaches a non-compete clause, you may have grounds for taking them to court. A court could oblige them to stop breaching the term, and you may also be able to have your legal costs covered.
Can you get out of it? A non-compete agreement is a type of restrictive covenant used to prevent employees from setting up competing businesses or working for direct rivals after they've quit their position. To get out of a non-compete agreement, the simplest step is simply to ignore it.
1. No employer shall enter into, or attempt to enter into, a non-compete agreement with a worker. 2. No employer shall maintain a non-compete agreement with a worker.