Restrictive covenants in employment contracts are essential for protecting your business. These clauses limit what former employees can do after they leave your company, ensuring they can't engage in activities that might harm your business.

Types of Restrictive Covenants

Restrictive covenants are provisions that help protect your business from potential risks posed by ex-employees. Here are the main types:

Non-competition clauses: Stop former employees from working for your competitors or starting a similar business.

Non-solicitation clauses: Prevent ex-employees from taking your clients, customers, or other employees with them.

Non-poaching agreements: Forbid ex-employees from hiring their former colleagues to join a new company or venture.

Why Are Restrictive Covenants Important?

In an employment relationship, there are basic protections like confidentiality and intellectual property rights that last even after an employee leaves. However, for those with access to sensitive or strategic information, restrictive covenants offer extra security. They help maintain your business's competitive edge and protect your confidential information and goodwill.

How to Make Restrictive Covenants Effective

To be effective and enforceable, restrictive covenants must be fair and reasonable. They should protect your business interests without being overly restrictive. Courts will not enforce covenants that are too broad or unreasonable, which could leave your business unprotected.

Key Considerations for Reasonableness

Ensure your restrictive covenants are reasonable in terms of:

Duration: How long the restrictions last.

Geographical scope: The area where the restrictions apply.

Activity restrictions: The specific actions being restricted.

Reasonable covenants are more likely to be upheld by courts, allowing you to enforce these protections against former employees who might pose a competitive threat.

How GS Verde Law Can Help

At GS Verde Law, we specialise in drafting effective restrictive covenants to protect your business. Our team ensures that your covenants are enforceable and tailored to your specific needs.