Non Compete Form

[Barrett Landscaping]

Looking to see what others have used and or included in their non-compete forms for employees.

[grandview (2006)]

Why do you need one?

[Barrett Landscaping]

So you have legal protection against employees potentially stealing your clients if they do work on the side

[CNYScapes]

I dont know anyone that does that. its not a common practice in this industry. So to answer your question I dont have any input on one. Good Luck though

[Barrett Landscaping]

around here ive heard of companies doing it... must be a midwest thing

[tonygreek]

I'd guess that Grandview knows what it is, but is actually asking "Okay, but why do you actually need one?", which is the same question I have.

Since Ohio is an at-will state, you can easily terminate them. In addition to firing them, do you also want to sue them for doing side work or prevent them from working in your industry and region for a set period after they leave your company? For a laborer?

If you want it more as a dissuasive scare tactic, draw up what you want and have it part of their employment agreement. If you want it enforceable, have your favorite local labor attorney draw one up for you, just be aware of the parameters and litmus tests that accompany them in Ohio. If you want to research it, Google "Ohio non-compete" or under the more precise "covenants not to compete".

[Barrett Landscaping]

thanks tonygreek. i do have a meeting with my attorney next week to discuss it. the reason that i am thinking about using it now rather than before is that i am hiring guys now that have previously run their own companies and i just dont want to have clients stolen from me if i can avoid it. i trust the guys but have always heard horror stories about employees doing work for clients on the side and or eventually taking them over.

[Efficiency]

Pay for the agreement, pay to enforce it, etc. we do it too but it costs a fair amount for this sort of protection

[Green Finger]

If you have someone in your office or doing your billing, you have them sign a non-complete clause. ( have them sign one when they have access to your customers) That way they can't contact your customers and underbid you. it's enforceable (Falls under intellectual property)