The following are the most common ways to get out of a non-compete agreement: Determine that the terms of the contract do not in fact prevent you from a desired course of action. Recognize when a non-compete contradicts the law. Negotiate a release agreement with the involved parties. Ignore the agreement.
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.
Non-compete agreements must be specifically limited in two distinct ways, 1) in time, and 2) in geographic area. If a non-compete clause or agreement fails to limit the scope of the contract to a specific time period and a specific geographic area, it can often be invalidated.
California is an outlier compared to most states; non-compete agreements are unenforceable. While employers can seek out other ways to protect confidential company information, a non-compete agreement will not accomplish those goals. Here's what you need to know about California non-compete enforceability.
compete agreement in Florida is voidable if it is unreasonable in geographic scope, length of time, or type of business it restricts.
This means that non-compete agreements that directly restrict a Florida attorney's right to practice law are not enforceable in Florida. Most states have adopted a similar rule prohibiting agreements that restrict an attorney's right to practice law.
Sometimes, if an employee refuses to sign a non-compete agreement, employers will not go as far as firing the individual but can create a hostile work environment. If this occurs, the employee may have a different type of case that is included under employment law.
The Enforceability of Non-Compete Agreements in Florida In Florida, non-compete agreements are enforceable under Florida Statute 542.335, provided they are reasonable in terms of time, area, and line of business.
Limits on Non-Compete Agreements in Florida In most cases involving former employees or independent contractors, six months or less is considered to be a reasonable duration, while two years or more is considered to be an unreasonable duration.