Crazy Non-Compete Contracts?

JL-b8 asks: "I've just encountered a (from what I know) strange occurrence. A group of friends who work for a small web design firm are being forced to sign a non-compete agreement with a clause that prohibits the employee from working with a competing company for 12 months, after the date of their leaving. The owners claim it's a standardly practiced clause, but I don't see how the hell a web developer/designer is supposed to find work in a city for a year, without moving to a completely different city. I'd like more input as to how this weighs in to the rest of the companies out there. Is this a common thing? If you've signed something like this, and had to switch jobs, how did it affect you?"

Re:IANAL but...

[Anonymous Coward]

I had to sign one of these for Doubleclick. They told me it was basically unenforceable and that a number of employees were working there in violation of their previous non-compete agreements.

It's worthless garbage, but I said I would only sign it if they gave me $5000 extra, which they did. So not totally useless, and you can bet I'm not going to tell them where I'm leaving to if I leave.

Re:Pretty standard

[Anonymous Coward]

And this is an industry where people change companies as often as their pants.

Monthly?

Re:Ignore 'em

[sconeu]

we had a non compete regarding costumers

Yeah, those people who wear costumes can be a real bitch to work with.

Re:6.5 figures?

[LearnToSpell]

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