Q&A

What to know about restrictive covenants in employment contracts?

What to know about restrictive covenants in employment contracts?

Dos and Don’ts of Restrictive Covenants in employment contracts Restrictive covenants in employment contracts can prevent an employee from competing with an ex-employer after they have left a business, or stop an ex-employee from soliciting or dealing with previous customers that they dealt with during their previous employment.

When do you need to update restrictive covenants?

Make sure restrictive covenants are regularly updated – when an employee is promoted or they change job, ensure that the covenants will still protect the business. So if they move from HR to sales, then non-solicitation and non-dealing covenants need to go into the contract.

Can a company impose covenants on all employees?

Impose identical covenants in the contracts of all employees from the receptionist to the Managing Director. If you do, then you run the risk of them not being enforceable at all because it is clear you have not considered the legitimate business interest that you are trying to protect.

What are non competition covenants in employment contracts?

non-competition covenants – restrictions on the former employee working in similar employment for a competitor; non-solicitation covenants – which prevent poaching of clients/customers/suppliers of the former employer;

What the Heck is a restrictive covenant?

A restrictive covenant is a promise included in a contract or agreement that somehow restricts one of the parties from doing something. In business, restrictive covenants often apply to employee contracts.

What do you need to know about restrictive covenants?

Key Takeaways A restrictive covenant is an agreement that restricts what someone can do. Restrictive covenants are most common in employment contracts and real estate deeds. A court may choose not to enforce restrictive covenants if they are deemed too restrictive.

What is the law regarding restrictive covenants?

The law on restrictive covenants varies significantly from state to state, and is governed by the common law, statutes, or a combination of both. For example, some states will examine the agreement under the common law governing contracts, generally upholding agreements that are “reasonable” under the circumstances.

What are restrictive covenants on property?

A restrictive covenant is a clause in a deed or lease to real property that limits what the owner of the land or lease can do with the property. Restrictive covenants allow surrounding property owners, who have similar covenants in their deeds, to enforce the terms of the covenants in a court of law.