Non-competes

["rogerkirk" <rogerkirk@mail.ttlc.net>]

Well, it seems as if Uncle Dale's non-compete (if there was one)
isn't being rigorously enforced.

Yesterday on WBZ, I heard a very soft-sell American Express "Open Network" commercial.  Supposedly a vocalization of their message board. The question was from a person (vocalized as a young, tentative, unsure woman) asking: "We hate to train people and then have them turn around and take all that knowledge with them when they leave in a few months.  Should we have them sign a non-compete contract?  Are they enforceable?"

The answers were three. All males.  

First response was a neutral-aged, authoritative voice who was very positive about them.  

Second response was an older-sounding man who basically sounded weary.  He said they "tried them and it would have cost too much to enforce them."  

Third response was most interesting.  It was a younger voice with a slight attitude.  He basically said "yeah, they usually aren't enforceable, but if an employee thinks it is, it will scare them into staying in line - and that's the effect you want"

Interesting - have only heard this commercial once.  And no variation on it, either.