Comment UK law (Score 1) 239
Although IANAL, I can tell you that UK law is strongly protective of the employee in such cases. As a principle of anti-slavery you cannot force someone to do anything. In particular, you cannot effectively force them to work for you by blocking them from other companies in their skill area (and so leaving your company as the only option).
To get round this you can draw up contract, agreed/signed by mutual consent, but the principle of a contract involves "consideration". In other words, both parties have to get something out of it. So for example you cannot require someone to avoid competitors unless they get something in return --- e.g. you pay them.
Trade secrets are related. An employee cannot take trade secrets to another employer but they can certainly take any skills they learned. The difference between the two is of course blurred, but the principle is that you cannot be prevented from using skills which are now part of you as distinct from part of the former employer.
To get round this you can draw up contract, agreed/signed by mutual consent, but the principle of a contract involves "consideration". In other words, both parties have to get something out of it. So for example you cannot require someone to avoid competitors unless they get something in return --- e.g. you pay them.
Trade secrets are related. An employee cannot take trade secrets to another employer but they can certainly take any skills they learned. The difference between the two is of course blurred, but the principle is that you cannot be prevented from using skills which are now part of you as distinct from part of the former employer.
