Non-Competes For Integrators: Love 'Em Or Hate 'eM?

JH
John Honovich
Jun 27, 2013
IPVM

Many integration companies love having their employee sign non-competes to make sure they cannot get another job in the industry in their region (for a certain period of time).

However, typically employees dislike them as it makes it very hard to find a new job that does not risk you getting sued or having to move.

What's your experience? Advice? Horror stories?

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Brian Rhodes
Jun 27, 2013
IPVMU Certified

A frank question: Does this mean an integrator must sue an offending (former) employee who breaks the NDA? Even if the case goes to trial, what sort of settlement is hoped for? Does it mean spending thousands to get back pennies?

I understand NDAs where a manufacturer's intellectual property or technology is involved, but it seems like an 'nuclear option' in the case of integrators. Can tradespeople be prevented from engaging in their trade of choice?

JH
John Honovich
Jun 27, 2013
IPVM

The integrator does not have to sue, but they essentially retain the right to sue.

It's not about winning money per se, but stopping employees from going to rivals or starting their own shop.

"Can tradespeople be prevented from engaging in their trade of choice?" If a municipality enforces non-competes, they can. For instance, California is famous for not enforcing them. However, many places allow them.

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Daniel S-T
Jun 27, 2013
I know a few people who have signed NDA's but they are limited to X amount of time, Nd have only been prevented from talking to customers of the previous employer, not from going elsewhere. But that's just my experience, and it's only been with sales people, techs come and go all the time.
JH
John Honovich
Jun 27, 2013
IPVM

Daniel, typically what you are describing is non solicitation, i.e., not 'talking to customers of the previous employer'. Those are typically more enforceable (again, depending on the jurisdiction). That I can understand more than non competes.

Rv
Rogier van der Heide
Jun 28, 2013

Sounds like a really odd thing. Wouldn't know why on earth you would want to accept that.

If you cannot find another job or start your own company without the risk of getting sued, wouldn't that make your vurnable for abuse by your employer ? They can treat you like shit cause you won't be jumping bandwagons anytime soon.

How do these non-competes work ? What is their time-frame ?

JH
John Honovich
Jun 28, 2013
IPVM

"Wouldn't know why on earth you would want to accept that."

Typically, employers have leverage, especially for younger, less experience ones (i.e., where else are they going to go?). That said, it's clearly a function of power / options.

The reality is the integrator as a company is typically far less crucial than the integrator's individual employees. Most projects can be delivered by one or a few key people (with low tech labor sub'ed out). Integrators, therefore, are highly at risk to key people walking out the door and taking projects. Anyone particularly agree or disagree with this?

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Undisclosed #1
Jun 28, 2013

Noncompeting Party will not; (i) engage in a similar business, or (ii) solicit the Protected Party's customers or employees. Most non-competes I've seen here in Texas are 1 year in length and verbiage depends on the position one holds. Executives and consultants may be more likely to have longer ones (2-5 years and can have geographical clauses as well- ouch!) due to the amount and type of information they obtain while working at said company.

Prior to October of 2006 it was extremely difficult for an employer to sue an employee here where it is considered an At-Will state meaning employer or employee can resign for whatever reason. Since then, we have had a few cases here that caused employers to write the non-competes in a very specific, unambiguous manner.

Rogier, you live in the Netherlands? How does it work there with employer/employee relationships? I gather there's no need for a form like this?

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Marty Major
Jun 28, 2013
Teledyne FLIR

Has anyone ever had a NDA enforced on them? I've found that most NDA's aren't worth the paper they are written on.

The majority of US states (not all) are 'right to work' states (or 'at will' as Undisclosed stated) which makes it very difficult for companies to sue former employees (even with NDAs) - unless they can prove real damages. i.e. loss of actual value.

Examples:

If an integrator tech quits to go work for another integrator - good luck enforcing any NDA; the move does not take any value from the company.

If an integrator tech quits to go work for the end user company (customer of integrator; cutting out the integrator), then the company has some basis to sue to enforce the NDA. By going to work directly for the customer, this move can (possibly) be shown to be 'taking value' from the integrator, thereby making the NDA more enforcable. Also, if an employee 'walks out the door, taking projects with them', I would imagine this would be an example of where a company has footing to sue to recoup this 'loss' under the NDA.

Keep in mind that no employer is going to expend the amount it costs to sue a former employee unless they are protecting 'value'. And this value has to be great enough to offset the costs of enforcement (unless they are just pursuing litigation out of spite - which can happen).

IMHO, if a company has low-level employees sign NDA's, then this is a sign of a company with retention issues, indicating this is probably not a great place to work to begin with. :)

JB
Jeremy Binder
Jun 28, 2013
Thiel Strategic Communications

We wrestled with this for years. We do not want to "Lord over" our employees, but, on the other hand, we, the company, oftentimes pay for the training and experience that makes someone much more marketable than when they first came to us.

How much does it cost to train someone? Travel, Time, Direct Training Costs. How about on the job training, where mistakes are made and that cost us?

Yes. Many will say it is the cost of doing business. Hopefully all that cost can be passed on to the customer.

What if an integrator wants an employee to get their CCNA. Who should pay for that? The CCNA goes with the employee, should they decide to leave.

Here is where we settled with training and non-competes:

If we require the training, then we, as the integrator should pay for it. If it is a cert (like CCNA), which can go with the employee should they leave, then there is an expectation that the employee will have some skin in the game.

Non-Competes have precedent in PA as not holding water due to the inability to keep someone from providing for themselves.

The other side of this question, is “How do you create a company culture that keeps people from leaving?”

A proactive approach, and associated thread, along these lines would prove productive in this community.

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Undisclosed #1
Jun 28, 2013

Charles, great point regarding training. That clearly shows the company has "invested" in the employee thus expect an ROI on their investment. In this case I have seen employers (in TX and LA) that make you sign a promissary note prior to attending a costly training session where the company promises to pay for the tuition and the employee promises to stay employed for a minimum of 1 year so said company can benefit from latest improvement in skill.

Personally, if an employee works for a company that treats them well and pays for training it creates loyalty, hence a document of this kind would not be necessary- Loyalty, the way things used to be - "scratch my back I'll scratch yours" relationship.

JH
John Honovich
Jun 28, 2013
IPVM

Charlie, thanks for the detailed feedback!

The role of training costs is quite interesting. I have seen other integrators tie this in to non competes. One company actually increased the length of non competes the more training the employee took. The employee could get out of the non compete by repaying the cost of training. With this company, they set it up in an onerous manner, that scared employees and actually motivated many not to accept training.

The art falls in how to structure it so that it does not transform the employee into a de facto indentured servant.

Btw, I started a new discussion, "Integrators: What's the Best Things Your Employer Can Do To Keep You?"

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Ethan Ace
Jun 28, 2013

I actually worked for one company that wanted me to sign a contract saying I'd stay on for two years after they sent me to training. The training cost $500, took two days, and was required for us to even sell the product. That was insanity.

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Undisclosed #1
Jun 28, 2013

What? Crazy! isn't that illegal though? forcing a contract where there isn't a personal choice? i.e. pass on the class. Plus $500 for one training would not justify a 2 year contract unless it was a certification of some kind which can garner higher salary for that employee personally.

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #2
Jun 28, 2013

Similar to what Charlie said in PA, also in NY non-compete agreements are extremely difficult to enforce. I have worked for a company where I had a non-compete clause, and when I quit and went to a competitor it was on good terms, and nothing happened. I have also worked for a company with no non-compete or non-disclosure and was sued when I left on bad terms, but the suit was dropped within 24 hours of my lawyer responding to their initial filing.

I spoke to a few lawyers before I left the company where I had a non-compete/non-solicit and they basically said unless you leave that company and start a new company stealing code/products/systems from the original company, at least in NY state, you're fine. I'm sure this isnt the same elsewhere...

JH
John Honovich
Jun 28, 2013
IPVM

The bigger practical problem is the fear of being sued. A company can easily allocate thousands or tens of thousands to a lawsuit. Can most employees match that? Probably not.

Plus, that fear can demotivate competitors from making an offer, as the potential added legal expenses increases the cost of hiring that employee.

JH
John Honovich
Jun 28, 2013
IPVM

Here's the personal choice - The employer is giving you something of value - a job - in 'consideration' of that, the employee is granting the employer the right to restrict future employment for a certain period of time.

The employer would argue that it is not 'forcing a contract'. The prospective employee is free to accept or reject.

That said, obviously the practical power dynamic is frequently warped, which does make it essentially more coercive.

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #3
Jun 28, 2013

no name cause others here read this.....

We have a NDA and non com.... this is for three years after leaving the company unless going out of their main market area....... also the last 24 months of training at cost(also hotel flight etc) is billed to employee if they leave (not if fired as far as i have seen) so if you quit to take other job after say a 5k training then yes they will and have gone after the employer who hired them. but if they fire you I don't see how they could enforce as it was not your choice (im in a At-will state they can fire you for anything)

case in point two techs left for "greener pastures" the company went after the new employer due to knowing about the NDA and Non comp and actively recruiting them anyway. one lost his job and the other moved into different field.

But the tech was actively going after the companies contracts and leads so that might have been tipping point

For me I had training and exper before I came here and so did many others hard to sue if you have 5-10 years in the field and trained prior to hiring.... but if there are green i can see the issue.

JH
John Honovich
Jun 28, 2013
IPVM

"One lost his job and the other moved into different field."

That's terrible. Hurts the employee, hurts end users. The only winner is the integrator who gets to put the screws to employees.

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #3
Jun 28, 2013

yep your right. I just figure as long as I keep my head down or find another line ill be ok.... I dont take scews life is too short to put up with that.......

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #3
Jun 28, 2013

also kept his last check to help pay the training he had recieved prior to leaving

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #4
Jun 28, 2013

Hi Everyone Having said all of that, if you owned a company, what would you do to your novice greenfield new hirees? What terms would you have them sign? What terms would you have them sign. Assume the law lets you enforce whatever NDA or Non compete you want. I personally expect hirees to sign 2 years after a training.

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Daniel S-T
Jun 28, 2013
I've always liked the idea of a employment contract in return for paid training. Not as an employer, but as a fellow employee who has watched countless people come, get training and leave, leaving me and the remaining to pick up their workload. To me it only seems fair, if an employer is going to spend a bunch of money on training or certification, you should be able to stick around for two years or so. Anything more than three years would be pushing it for me.
JH
John Honovich
Jun 28, 2013
IPVM

Pay them less than experienced people. That's inherently a 'penalty' for being green. But it's a tactic that does not ban them from the industry for years or force them to move, if they ever want to leave the company.

Quite frankly, telling an employee that they cannot work in the same field for multiple years or have to move is mean.

JH
John Honovich
Jun 29, 2013
IPVM

Also, training should immediately and noticeably increase the productivity of the employee. If you send an employee to a training class on X and X is part of their regular responsibilities, the employee should be able to install / configure / troubleshoot X more efficiently after the training (i.e., being able to complete tasks in less time or do tasks that higher paid employees would otherwise have to do). That should increase value for the employer.

Let's say you spend $5,000 training an employee - a fairly liberal estimate - that training should make the employee more productive. If the employee is only $100 more productive per week, the return to the employer in year 1 is ~$5,000.

I can understand an employer being pissed about an employee getting hired, getting trained and quitting with a few months time but that's not common. More typically is someone who has been employed for 3, 4, 5 years and then leaves. How much training did they really consume and how much increased value did that training lead to during their time of employment.

Can anyone really say, for the $5,000 or $10,000 the employer paid for training, the employee should now be barred from working in the same domain or market for X number of years?

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Marty Major
Jun 29, 2013
Teledyne FLIR

"case in point two techs left for "greener pastures" the company went after the new employer due to knowing about the NDA and Non comp and actively recruiting them anyway."

========================

The 'new' employer is not a party to either of the two contracts (NDA or NonCom) - they are not bound to the contracts simply because they 'know about them'.

Unless there is proof that the new company conspired with their 'new' employee to liberate intellectual property from the old company, the old company has no basis on which to sue the new employer of their old employee.

UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #5
Jun 30, 2013

Let me say, there is not a lawyer in the bunch of you. But I will say the 1. an NDA is a non disclosure agreement not a non compete. 2. A non-compete agreement in most cases is not enforceable unless there sever damage to the suing party. If the suing parties is willing to pay the lost wage etc of the breaching party then we may have an enforceable contract. There are many ingredients in the issue of a perfected contract breach. Is there any special knowledge obtained that can be used by the employee. Is there proprietary processes or info that the employing company has. Again this is a personal service contract and enforcable as suck.

As a short note, the guy who has the most money usually wins in a lawsuit not the righteous person. If you are warned of the policies of the company at the time of signing and sing it then and you intend to breach said contract you have committed a fraud. Which is a civil court issue.

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Mark Jones
Aug 04, 2014

In North Carolina, Non-Competes are very enforceable as long as they are narrow and to the point, just like any other contract. Judges love them and for the most part, they respect them, if the employee moves to greener pastures. If he is fired, not so much. Judges have said, "if he was bad enough to fire him, why do you care what he does?". We have NDA's and NCA's. They are for one year. You have to sign it to work here and it is covered in your exit interview.

I do agree that the better avenue is to create a positive culture. It is a trust, but verify issue to me. I treat you fairly and I expect the same. I assume the same until you don't. If you choose to take your talents elsewhere, there is usually a good reason. You are welcome to leave. You just can't take my clients or my documentation with you. That is only fair. People leave for a variety of reasons. Sometimes I even agree with them. I had one to leave recently because he was offered a Project Managers position. I already have a good Project Manger. I shook his hand and wished him well. Just leave things as you found them. We have not noticed any customers following him.

By the way, a right to work state has nothing to do with this. That only means you can work in a field that is union, and not have to join the union. The other poster is correct, at-will simply means I can fire you for any reason as long as it is not one of the Fed Five. Other wise, I can tell you I am going to replace you with my sister and there is not one thing you can do. I don't even have to tell you.

JH
John Honovich
Jun 30, 2013
IPVM

Undisclosed, are you a lawyer? ;)

I am clearly talking about non-competes, not NDAs, as you can see from the title of this discussion.

Given NDAs are being referenced herein, let me talk about the key differences of the two:

  • An NDA is agreement not to disclose private information about an organization. NDAs do not block someone from working somewhere else. They simply restrict them from sharing private information about that organization.
  • A non-compete is an agreement not to work in specific places. Even if you do not share private information, you can still be blocked from working.

Often, NDAs and Non-Competes are packaged together in a single document. However, for most employees, NDAs are far less practically problematic than non-competes.

Btw, please refrain from giving undisclosed legal advice like "A non-compete agreement in most cases is not enforceable unless there sever damage to the suing party." Whether a non-compete is enforceable depends on the jurisdiction and the terms within the agreement. Anyone with a non-compete or asked to sign a non-compete should take it seriously and review with an attorney.

UE
Undisclosed End User #6
Jun 30, 2013

I have investigated non-compete agreements both as an employee and then an employer.

In the state of Virginia, broadly drawn non-competes are said to be un-enforceable. For example, if a non-compete agreement can reasonably be interpreted as making employees un-employable elsewhere, the scope is too broad. For example, if you work for a government contractor and your agreement prohibits you from working in any capacity as a government contractor, it's probably drawn so broadly as to be unenforceable.

Given that, I would think employees in Virginia wouldn't worry too gravely about broadly drawn agreements.

Legally in Virginia, employers may find that a broadly drawn non-compete agreement is equivalent to no agreement at all. I would think they should decide what crown jewels are worth protecting and focus their agreements and energy on those specific elements.

Employers should draw non-competes very narrowly, probably focusing on preventing former employees from cannibalizing the firm's customers. Before the hire, employees likely have no relationship with a business' specific customers. After working for a time, they learn deep inside knowledge of a business' specific pricing, processes, pitches, strengths and weaknesses, and especially customers. With that, they can destroy the business that trusted and nurtured them. This makes an ex-employee competitor much more damaging than a routine competitor who has no inside knowledge of a business' specific approach.

Regarding enforcement, such efforts seem rare for the average ex-employee acting in good faith, but a simple google search allows you to draw your own conclusions.

Regarding intellectual property, trade secrets, and so on, I would think that sort of issue is better addressed through non-disclosure agreements. In my experience as an employee, it was typical to be required to sign half a dozen different types of agreements as a condition of employment.

I should caveat all this with, I'm not qualified to provide legal advice, seek professional help, I'm just some yahoo,etc. :)

JH
John Honovich
Jun 30, 2013
IPVM

"Employers should draw non-competes very narrowly, probably focusing on preventing former employees from cannibalizing the firm's customers."

Typically, that is called non-solicitation, i.e., the former employee cannot solicit (i.e., cannibalize) the firm's customers (i.e., the employee can work for a local competitor so long as they do not solicit the previous firm's customers). Non-solicitation is often handled / ruled differently than non-competes. I have seen companies include a list of specific 'house' customers and, while I am not a lawyer, I suspect having a narrowed, defined list would help in enforcing such agreement in many jurisdictions.

UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #5
Jun 30, 2013

John,

Right but where did the NDA get into this mix. Again, John, I am not being a rude/prude but I have taught R.E. Law etc. at a collage level. Also I had the opportunity to go to mediation and court at least 3 time a year for a company I sat on the Board as it repetitive and officer, not in this industry. So my comments were given to people so they will watch what they sign. Don’t pick a fight unless they can finish it. And most of all don’t try to trick people in business. It will usually backfire.

UI
Undisclosed Integrator #7
Jul 01, 2013

I also have a non-compete. And I know for a fact my company has tried to enforce it on numerous occasions.

The problem is not whether or not it is legal or enforceable, but it scares away the parties from hiring you.

For example, a former colleague was leaving to work for a competitor. Once my employer found out, their lawyers contacted the other firm. Suffice to say, the competitor decided not to hire the individual. On other occasions where a person was leaving to work for a customer, they tried a similar approach and the customer threatened to take all business elsewhere. Others they did nothing so I have found it is used when a manager's or executive's “feeling are hurt” like a girlfriend after you break up throwing your clothes out the window.

I understand that the employer invests a certain amount of $$ on the individual for training, however the employee must also put in their own time for the training such as research, study, etc...

Until the Department of Labor in each state outlaw this practice it will continue. I don't like unions, but this is a case where a union would help protect the employees.

Everyone has an opinion on this that you talk to, where they say don’t sign it… then they will fire you… or hire a lawyer to fight it… but who has the $$ to pay for a lawyer to fight this? My employer chose to start this on existing employees after working there for 3 years so I really had no recourse but to sign it.

JH
John Honovich
Jul 01, 2013
IPVM

Thanks for sharing, good real world examples on, "The problem is not whether or not it is legal or enforceable, but it scares away the parties from hiring you."

AL
Andy Lee
Jul 01, 2013
IPVMU Certified

Years ago, in a different industry, I managaged a small retail/repair shop for a national company. I had signed a non-compete agreement, and when I moved to a different locally owned shop (in the same industry) I was contacted by a lawyer hired by my previous employer. I had to pay a lawyer about $500 to negotiate an agreement where I could work for my new employer but was not allowed to contact any customers or businesses that I had worked with in my previous position. I actually thought that was fair, but I would have preferred if my previous employer had just given me a call. We could have worked out the same agreement without having to pay any lawyers. If I had not worked out that agreement I probably would have had to leave the new position as the new employer didn't want to get into a legal battle with a bigger company that had deeper pockets.

JH
John Honovich
Jul 02, 2013
IPVM

Yes but they do not belong to you! i.e., 'defensive about our staff'

An employer may feel upset or disappointed, but that's life. It's one thing to be proactive about creating a culture and environment to make people stay (as you nicely explain here), it is another for an employer to legally 'handcuff' them with non-competes.

JB
Jeremy Binder
Jul 02, 2013
Thiel Strategic Communications

Good point, John.

Ok. Now I may need a sofa to lie down on as you listen to my next comment ;)

I wrote, "our staff" because there is a sense of responsibility and commitment to people.

We build teams. And when you lose someone who is a great part of a team, it hurts many people, including our clients.

I find myself oftentimes comparing my managing/leadership style and decisions to my parenting.

For some, this comment may be horrid. Unfortunately, I cannot change anyone's parents and their experience.

Parenting is an awesome responsibility that requires both "holding on and letting go."

We have a great history in our company of letting people go graciously, even when it may not make the best "business" sense to let them go.

(Some reading this may have even benefited from this)

We have former employess we invested in who are now Manufacturer Reps, Industry Researchers, Access Control Managers @ a University, entrepreneurs of their own start up (in a related field), and working for competitors.

We are actually proud of our corporate character - but it does cost, and it does hurt.

Oh, and we do not use non-competes - even with our sales staff. Some call us fools, but there is some freedom in our philosophy.

JH
John Honovich
Jul 02, 2013
IPVM

Charlie, I think that's great and an exception to how this industry typically works (as many of the examples above indicate).

JB
Jeremy Binder
Jul 02, 2013
Thiel Strategic Communications

How many of you have experienced poaching from competitors?

How about head hunters?

How about manufacturers and thier reps? Even getting someone to leave your company and go to another?

These are obviously some outside reasons we get defensive about our staff.

JH
John Honovich
Jun 09, 2014
IPVM

A new article from the NY Times titled, "Noncompete Clauses Increasingly Pop Up in Array of Jobs"

Good read.

JH
John Honovich
Nov 07, 2015
IPVM

This is the type of thinking I find terrible. An attorney is trying to sell his employee agreements using the following scare tactics:

"All employers share a common concern that trying employees, giving employees a start in their career or a chance to make a living, comes with the risk of competition. So a few thoughts come to mind, like "no good deed goes unpunished", and the story of the turtle that took the scorpien across the river only to be stung on the other side. It's one thing to deal with competitors in your industry on a level playing field, and another to reveal your methods and secrets and endure training, only to have the ungrateful ex employee steal your secrets and compete against you..... When it comes to this good guys really do finish last, and broke or at least poorer."

The mindset that employers are doing people a favor is laughable. What is this ditch digging in the 14th century? Talented employees have lots of choices.

And if a security integrator owner is going to go broke for a key employee leaving, this implies 2 very important things: (1) the business itself has no intrinsic value beyond that employee (or else why would customers leave to a single guy) and (2) the owner is paying the key employee so little relative to what the owner is being paid that the employee is motivated enough to do this.

Recently, we have been talking about the security industry being a STEM field but, with tactics like this, it is more like slave labor.

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Undisclosed #9
Nov 07, 2015
IPVMU Certified

...the business itself has no intrinsic value beyond that employee (or else why would customers leave to a single guy)

IMHO, the damage that even a singe guy can do to a small business is significant.

Hypothetical case: A small alarm installer. He has only a few techs. One of the newer ones is a go-getter and a good tech to boot. Maybe a bit too good. Always giving out his cell phone number and encouraging customers to call him personally.

Owner gets in dispute over this and fires the guy. Guy calls all customers that he has ever met face to face, and let's them know that he has left the company and is now with XYZ, which is better than ABC.

Since these customers know he's good, and to them he was the person associated with old company, a lot will switch. Probably can keep them thru their old monitoring service, so no changes at all from the customers point of view.

Throw in an introductory offer and why not?

Do you not agree this type of thing happens quite a bit?

JH
John Honovich
Nov 07, 2015
IPVM

Your example proves my point, no? :)

If customers are so quick to leave ABC, it implies that the customers do not see much value in ABC company, right? ABC is a commodity and the sales guy is the competitive advantage.

"the damage that even a singe guy can do to a small business is significant."

But that small business needs to focus on developing true differentiators (whether its superior company brand or proprietary capabilities, etc.). If it has none of them, the small business owner does not have much value outside of the ability to control / restrain his employees.

U
Undisclosed #9
Nov 07, 2015
IPVMU Certified

Your example proves my point, no? :)

Depends on your point.

If your point is that a junior employee should be able to leave with their employer's customer list and proceed to solicit business from each and every one, and derogate them in the process, and that whatever happens is fair, because if they switch the customer must not have seen enough value, then no. I disagree.

Laws aside, do you think that is ok behavior?

JH
John Honovich
Nov 07, 2015
IPVM

There's the issue of non-compete and then non-solicitation.

As I've described above, I think non-competes are draconian and medieval. Non-solicitation I think is more reasonable and I am more divided on that.

That said, I still believe all business owners should focus hard on developing the company's own competitive advantages first and not relying on the law to punish employees.

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Undisclosed #9
Nov 07, 2015
IPVMU Certified

Agreed. Pure non-competes, i.e., you cannot work for a competitor, are bogus. And even automatically invalid in California, for example, as you are aware.

I don't think that a tech should copy the customer DB to a flash drive and take it to their next company.

However, a high powered salesperson cannot reasonably be asked to not call any contacts that he may have acquired himself at his last position. Cuz that's what he is.

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Marty Major
Nov 07, 2015
Teledyne FLIR

"Owner gets in dispute over this and fires the guy."

The owner fires the employee for being 'too good' at customer service? That is a joke.

Customers like people who offer them good service - so if they find someone who actually does, and that person moves to another company, then of course many will follow the employee in hopes of maintaining the high level of service they have been accustomed to. Lesson: Don't fire quality employees over bullshit policies.

IMO, this 'dispute' shows the paranoia and/or weakness in business model of the owner - based on past histories maybe - and is an indicator that working for his/her company sucks.

Quality employees only stay at crappy companies for as long as it takes to find a quality employer who will appreciate the value they bring to them.

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Undisclosed #9
Nov 07, 2015
IPVMU Certified

The owner fires the employee for being 'too good' at customer service? That is a joke.

Correct, "Maybe a bit too good." was tongue in cheek. Nobody gets fired for actually being too good.

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Marty Major
Nov 07, 2015
Teledyne FLIR

Yes, but 'too good' is based on the subjective perspective, no?

Let's say for arguments sake that this employee is simply providing the highest level of service they can.

In your hypothetical, the owner apparently 'sees' this employee's actions as some kind of potential threat. My comments were based on why this would be the case.

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Undisclosed #9
Nov 07, 2015
IPVMU Certified

Let's say for arguments sake that this employee is simply providing the highest level of service they can.

But provide to whom?

They work for the employer, not for the customer.

Time Warner cable guy might provide a customer a 'higher level' of service by telling him any number of things that TW would rather he not.

He might also get fired for doing that.

Is that not the employers right?

Likewise, if in my hypothetical, the employer has specifically told the employee NOT to give out his cell number, isn't that his right?

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Marty Major
Nov 07, 2015
Teledyne FLIR

I agree with you that owners can certainly set policies - for whatever reason they choose.

Maybe for operational reasons, the owner wants all customer calls routed through HQ... which makes complete sense.

If that is the case, then a specific policy covering this should be in place when the employee is hired. I read your hypothetical as the owner simply not liking that the employee is good at building relationships with people and feeling threatened by that.

U
Undisclosed #9
Nov 07, 2015
IPVMU Certified

I read your hypothetical as the owner simply not liking that the employee is good at building relationships with people and feeling threatened by that.

Fair enough, I hadn't thought thru that far.

In any event, the routing to HQ thing is what might be given as a reason, but, I would still say that even if the real reason is that the boss feels threatened by the employee's behavior, that is still a valid reason to ask that he not give out his cell phone.

I'm not saying it's the smartest decision, just its within his rights. Maybe, as you allude, he's been burned before. It's bound to affect someone's attitude.

Routing to HQ strengthens his brand, just like making everyone wear a shirt with the company name logo larger than the employees name strengthens their brand.

I think though it's probably a waste of time to try to enforce non-competes, because it's usually too late to stop when you discover it and the any damages are unlikely to be recovered, even if awarded.

UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #5
Nov 07, 2015

Here a good one. "Whats good for the Goose is good for the gander."

A mfg is always doing non competes. Why should distributors or integrator be different. The one big issue that no one talks about is, if the other party protests the working arrangement of employee going toa competitor, the lay state the emploer must pay the employee a differential or his whole wages differential until adequeste compensations and job is found.

In this manner we jsut cant have integrators using this to cut into competition Situations

U
Undisclosed #8
Nov 07, 2015

I read this three times and still don't understand what you are trying to say.

AT
Andrew Thomas
Nov 08, 2015

Prior to making an employee offer, you should present to the prospective employee your non disclosure privacy agreement. This needs to narrowly defined to protect information and activities about your active clients and prospective clients, and your internal operations.

If the potential employee agrees to the terms of the NDA / Privacy agreement, then and only then do you make an employment offer. The makes the two agreements separate, and much more enforceable.

As part of the employee agreement, the employee agrees to an annual review of the NDA policy, and protected information. as part of the employee review process, include the NDA policy that discussed in writing your clients, processes, and internal secrets is a good thing to remind employees.

Of course all of your RMR and purchase agreements have a clause restricting clients from hiring past employees, or firms that might hire (past employees are restricted from being onsite) for a period, (The shorter the more enforceable.) 12 months is the max.

However, after 25+ years, I have one past employee that I really missed, but we remain friends, and he's brought us more business in his new role.

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