[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-1-en-105":3,"doc-seo-282131-105":53,"doc-detail-282131-en":126},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,14,19,24,29,34,39,44,49],{"id":8,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":11,"show_sort_weight":12,"slug":13},11,1,"Template","Presentations",90,"presentations",{"id":15,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":16,"show_sort_weight":17,"slug":18},12,"Resumes",80,"resumes",{"id":20,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":21,"show_sort_weight":22,"slug":23},14,"Invoices",70,"invoices",{"id":25,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":26,"show_sort_weight":27,"slug":28},15,"Posters",60,"posters",{"id":30,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":31,"show_sort_weight":32,"slug":33},16,"Social Media",50,"social-media",{"id":35,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":36,"show_sort_weight":37,"slug":38},17,"Forms",40,"forms",{"id":40,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":41,"show_sort_weight":42,"slug":43},18,"Letters",30,"letters",{"id":45,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":46,"show_sort_weight":47,"slug":48},21,"Paper Templates",5,"papers-templates",{"id":50,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":51,"show_sort_weight":4,"slug":52},158,"General","general-158",{"code":4,"msg":54,"data":55},"ok",{"site_id":56,"language":57,"slug":58,"title":59,"keywords":60,"description":61,"schema_data":62,"social_meta":119,"head_meta":121,"extra_data":123,"updated_unix":125},105,"en","new-york-state-non-compete-agreements-frequently-asked-questions","New York State Non-Compete Agreements - Frequently Asked Questions","","New York State Attorney General guidance explains what non-compete agreements are and when they are legally allowed. It outlines enforceability requirements, including protection of legitimate employer interests, avoidance of undue hardship to employees, and lack of harm to the public, while also emphasizing reasonable time and geographic limits. The FAQs cover how courts evaluate agreements, whether employees must sign, potential impacts on future employment, employer enforcement methods, and steps to take before signing or after signing.",{"@graph":63,"@context":118},[64,80,101],{"@type":65,"itemListElement":66},"BreadcrumbList",[67,71,74,77],{"item":68,"name":69,"@type":70,"position":9},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":72,"name":10,"@type":70,"position":73},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/",2,{"item":75,"name":41,"@type":70,"position":76},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/letters/",3,{"item":78,"name":59,"@type":70,"position":79},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/new-york-state-non-compete-agreements-frequently-asked-questions/282131/",4,{"url":78,"name":59,"@type":81,"image":82,"author":87,"headline":59,"publisher":90,"fileFormat":93,"inLanguage":57,"description":61,"dateModified":94,"datePublished":95,"encodingFormat":93,"isAccessibleForFree":96,"interactionStatistic":97},"DigitalDocument",{"url":83,"@type":84,"width":85,"height":86},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/new-york-state-non-compete-agreements-frequently-asked-questions/282131.png","ImageObject",442,249,{"name":88,"@type":89},"Eliana","Person",{"url":68,"name":91,"@type":92},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-27","2026-09-16",true,{"@type":98,"interactionType":99,"userInteractionCount":35},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":100},"ViewAction",{"@type":102,"mainEntity":103},"FAQPage",[104,110,114],{"name":105,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":107},"What is a non-compete agreement under New York State guidance?","Question",{"text":108,"@type":109},"A non-compete agreement prohibits an employee from working for a competitor or starting a competing business, usually for a set period after leaving a job. It may be part of an employment contract or a standalone contract signed before or after employment begins.","Answer",{"name":111,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":112},"When will a non-compete be considered legal and enforceable?",{"text":113,"@type":109},"A non-compete is only allowed and enforceable to the extent it protects the employer’s legitimate interests, does not impose undue hardship, does not harm the public, and is reasonable in time and geographic scope. Courts also consider job duties, the employer’s business interest, and the agreement’s language.",{"name":115,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":116},"What should you do before signing or after signing a non-compete?",{"text":117,"@type":109},"Before signing, ask whether you must sign, read and understand the document, and consider negotiating terms, including who counts as competitors, the duration, and geographic scope, plus any compensation or training offered. 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A non-compete may be one section of an employment contract or a standalone contract that an employee signs before or after employment begins.  \nAre non-competes legal?  \nA non-compete is only allowed and enforceable to the extent it (1) is necessary to protect the employer’s legitimate interests,(2) does not impose an undue hardship on the employee,(3) does not harm the public, and (4) is reasonable in time period and geographic scope. An employer’s legitimate interest may include protecting an employer’s trade secrets and confidential information and preventing employees from taking specialized skills they gained on the job to a competitor. A non-compete’s restrictions must be no greater than necessary to protect the legitimate interests of the employer.  \nTo determine if a non-compete is enforceable, courts consider an employee’s job duties, the employer’s business interest, and the language of the agreement. A court will not enforce a noncompete unless it determines the non-compete meets the criteria in the above paragraph.  \nA court may require an employee to comply with some parts of a non-compete agreement, even if other portions of the agreement are unreasonable, such as length of time or geographic scope. Generally, upon finding portions of a non-compete unreasonable, a court may invalidate the agreement entirely or may enforce the agreement for a shorter time or in a smaller area.  \nDo I have to sign a non-compete?  \nNo law requires you to sign a non-compete, but an employer is allowed to require you to sign anon-compete before or after you start work. Employees can easily overlook the terms of a noncompete if they are told they must sign it just to be hired or to continue employment. In doing so, employees may unintentionally sign unenforceable non-competes.  \nNew York State Attorney General | Labor Bureau  \n28 Liberty Street, New York, [NY 10005 | 212.416.8700 | compete@ag.ny.gov](NY 10005 | 212.416.8700 | compete@ag.ny.gov)  \nHow could a non-compete affect me?  \nDepending upon its terms, a non-compete may limit your ability to accept a new job for a certain period of time within a certain geographic area. If a non-compete is too restrictive, then it may be difficult to find new work with higher wages or better job opportunities.  \nHow do employers enforce non-competes?  \nAn employer can file a lawsuit and ask a court to enforce the non-compete and require the employee to follow its terms. Some employers may send a letter to the employee or to the employee’s new employer threatening to file a lawsuit to discourage employees from taking anew job.  \nBefore signing a non-compete  \n1. Before accepting a new job, ask the employer if you will have to sign a non-compete.  \n2. Before signing, make sure you read and understand any document that an employer asks you to sign.  \n3. Remember that a non-compete is a contract and that you can try to negotiate its terms. Consider these questions before signing:  \n• What businesses are considered competitors? A non-compete may not be enforceable if the definition of a competitor is too broad or prevents you from working in an entire sector or industry.  \n• How long does the non-compete period last? Non-competes should be limited in time.  \n• What geographic area does it cover? Is the geographic scope so large that you might have to move to get a job with another employer in the industry?  \n• Are you getting anything in exchange for signing the non-compete? For example, some employers provide a bonus or specialized training, guarantee employment fora certain time, or provide payment for some or all of the non-compete period in exchange","cbCaipdyGFmv1l54","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaipdyGFmv1l54","pdf",153030,"English","# Frequently Asked Questions\n## What is a non-compete agreement?\n## Are non-competes legal?\n## Do I have to sign a non-compete?\n## How could a non-compete affect me?\n## How do employers enforce non-competes?\n## Before signing a non-compete\n## What can I do if I signed a non-compete?\n## Ending Overly Broad Non-Competes","[{\"question\":\"What is a non-compete agreement under New York State guidance?\",\"answer\":\"A non-compete agreement prohibits an employee from working for a competitor or starting a competing business, usually for a set period after leaving a job. It may be part of an employment contract or a standalone contract signed before or after employment begins.\"},{\"question\":\"When will a non-compete be considered legal and enforceable?\",\"answer\":\"A non-compete is only allowed and enforceable to the extent it protects the employer’s legitimate interests, does not impose undue hardship, does not harm the public, and is reasonable in time and geographic scope. Courts also consider job duties, the employer’s business interest, and the agreement’s language.\"},{\"question\":\"What should you do before signing or after signing a non-compete?\",\"answer\":\"Before signing, ask whether you must sign, read and understand the document, and consider negotiating terms, including who counts as competitors, the duration, and geographic scope, plus any compensation or training offered. After signing, evaluate whether new employment would violate the terms and seek legal advice if you are unsure or if your employer threatens enforcement.\"}]","New York State Non-Compete Agreements - Frequently Asked Questions | PDF",1789570368]