Non-compete agreements are rampant in the tech industry and most workers have no choice but to sign them, but are they worth getting worked up over? I think they are despite what a recent article in Eweek.com has to say.
Non-compete agreements can wreak havoc on your professional and personal life! You can incur thousands of dollars in legal fees and, if you lose, be prevented from earning a livelihood in your chosen professional for any where from 6 months to 2 years!
Read your agreement. Discuss the effect of the non-compete and non-solicitation provisions with a lawyer knowledgeable of the issues.