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on-compete agreements are extremely prevalent in Massachusetts and typically enforceable. A non-compete agreement is a contractual agreement generally prohibiting an employee from engaging in competition against their employer for a specific period of time and in a specific area after the employee’s employment ends.

There are a number of ways to limit the effect a non-compete can have on an employee and to get around their enforcement altogether. A non-compete must be appropriately tailored to protect an employer’s legitimate business interest, such as the protection of confidential information or trade secrets, or to protect an employer’s goodwill. A non-compete will not be enforced when it protects only ordinary competition.

If you are being asked to sign a non-compete or have already signed a non-compete, it is important to understand your legal rights and be aware of the impact a non-compete clause has on your ability to seek future employment.