Okay so I'm an intern for a company that manufactures chemicals for semiconductors. I graduate in May and have been offered a position for a company that manufactures chemicals for consumer products. I'm not sure if I signed a non-compete agreement. I will ask on Monday but if I did is there anyway to get out of it or would it count. I'm not sure if they are the same industry or not. I'm really confused about the whole thing and would like some answers. I really appreciate it.
2007-11-10 14:06:58 · 2 answers · asked by sattexangemini 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Most non-compete agreements (note that I said most) are unenforceable. The reason is that no employer can prevent you from practicing your profession. So if you are a chemical engineer who specializes in some aspect of semiconductor processing, and you worked at a company that engaged in some aspect of semiconductor processing, they could not keep you from working at another company involved in some aspect of semiconductor processing.
However, trade secret laws protect former employers from employees who want to pass on proprietary knowledge they learned from previous employers. Be sure you know what is confidential or secret from your former employer so you and your new employer do not run afoul of trade secret laws.
2007-11-10 16:41:16 · answer #1 · answered by LonHolder 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Where are you? Some states allow non-compete's, some don't, and in those that do there are different rules.
In any State I know of, it would be next to impossible to enforce a non-compete against an intern.
Richard
2007-11-10 14:10:25 · answer #2 · answered by rickinnocal 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋