It is not uncommon for companies to ask their employees to sign a noncompete agreement after getting hired.
However, many instances may end with a person wanting to get out of this agreement sooner rather than later. Is it possible to do so?
Waiting out the agreement
Forbes discusses ways to handle noncompete agreements from the employee end. First, you can choose to see the agreement through to the end.
This is the simplest way of handling it. It requires no extra steps, paperwork or thought on your part. If you wait until the noncompete agreement expires, you can simply go straight back to working.
Many noncompete agreements also include geographical clauses. If you move outside of the specified geographical boundary, then you can also start working again right away.
Asking for early release
However, some periods of noncompete agreements last far too long to simply wait them out. In these cases, you can ask your company for an early release. To do so, you need to be able to assure them that your next plans will not harm the health of their business.
If you choose to go this route, you can also look through your agreement to find loopholes. This can give you more negotiating power later.
Going to court
Finally, if all else fails, you can go to court. The court has the power to void a noncompete agreement that they find infeasible, either with the duration of the agreement or the geographical locations stipulated within it.
Of course, the best way to avoid problems is by thinking twice before signing stringent agreements from the start.
