> If that gets refused, I instead add a clause that says any period where the non-compete is enforced will be paid at my full salary.
I believe employment NCs should be illegal, but this is the minimum standard a non compete should require to be legal. The fact that companies can essentially force you to stop working for years, without paying, is ridiculous in my opinion.
Now I'm mid-career, employers want to hire me for my experience.
If presented with a non-complete clause, I first strike it out, saying it isn't fair that you stop me working in my core area of expertise, when you're hiring me for exactly that reason.
If that gets refused, I instead add a clause that says any period where the non-compete is enforced will be paid at my full salary.
In practice, there ends up being a short discussion with HR, some thinking behind the scenes, and that clause is allowed. And when I eventually leave, the non-compete period ends up being waived.