Most contracts I’ve signed have language to the effect of “the employee is not bound to any covenants that could restrict his ability to provide his services to the company”, which would include noncompetes.

Of course, noncompetes being unenforceable make for a good argument that one is not, in fact, bound by that covenant.

In practice, I’ve always just answered “no” to the question on this basis. If any former employer behaves in such a way as to get me fired from my present job, I’m rather optimistic about my prospects for legal remedy.