Many employers have information, trade secrets, and processes that enable them to be competitive in their field. Protecting this information is often vital to the success of their business. A restraint of trade clause protects employers from having their business affected by an employee trying to share sensitive information or processes with a similar business.
There are rules in place to ensure a restraint of trade clause is reasonable and does not affect an employee’s ability to find a new job.
Due to the complex nature of a restraint clause, it is recommended to seek independent legal advice before trying to enforce a restraint clause against an employee who joins a competitor or starts a competing business.
Types Of Restraint Of Trade Clauses
Below are the two most common types of restraint clauses in NZ:
Non-Competition: prevents a former employee from working for a company that conducts work that is similar to their former employer’s business.
Non-Solicitation: allows a former employee to work for a company in a similar field or industry. However, they are not allowed to contact clients from their former employer about the new business.
Each business has their own specific limitations and restrictions. For example, a restraint clause may prevent an employee from working a secondary job in a business similar to their current job. Alternatively, a restraint clause may state the employee is unable to work with former clients for a certain period of time.
What Can An Employer Include In A Restraint Clause?
A restraint of trade clause can only be enforced if the conditions are reasonable and the employer has a specific business interest to protect. Fear of competition is not a reasonable excuse to enforce a restraint of trade clause. It is also unreasonable to enforce a clause that makes it hard for the employee to find employment in their field of work.
Business interests that can be reasonably protected include:
specialised knowledge about processes, methods and techniques
confidential information
strong connections with existing customers and clients
trade connections
Most restraint clauses last for a few months or can be up to 12 months. It is not standard for a restraint clause in NZ to last longer than 12 months, but there may be an exception under special circumstances.
These clauses can also place limits on who and where a former employee can work. However, the conditions must be reasonable in relation to the geographical area and population. For example, a restraint clause may prevent former employees working a certain distance from their former employer or working with a certain group of people.
What To Do If An Employee Challenges A Restraint Of Trade Clause?
An employee who believes they are subject to an unreasonable restraint clause may escalate this to the Employment Relations Authority (ERA). Depending on the circumstances, the ERA may work with both parties to develop more reasonable terms.
What Is Considered A Breach Of A Restraint Clause?
In each industry, there is the potential for certain processes, knowledge, and trade secrets to be considered the sole property of an employer. Whether or not information is the confidential property of an employer depends on several factors:
is the information a trade secret that relates to the creation of a carefully guarded product, recipe, or the way a service is offered?
is the information highly sensitive to the business or confidential?
did the employer make it clear to the employee that the information was highly sensitive or confidential?
was the information gained directly from the employer, or did it come from another source?
There are ways for employers to stop business activity that breaches a restraint clause. They may be able to ask the ERA to step in and inform the employee to stop the activity. The ERA may also impose penalties and recover lost business or the cost of damage as a result of the employee’s breach.
Is Using Confidential Information From A Previous Job Breaching A Restraint Clause?
Not all skills and knowledge gained from an employee are considered confidential. This will depend on the information and how it has been applied in the employee’s new position.
If the employee is using a general skill learned from a former employer that is common knowledge in the industry, this would not be considered a breach of clause. However, if the skill or technique was specific to processes performed by their former employer, the court may consider the information to be confidential.
To avoid potential confusion and later conflict, employers should make it clear to employees whether or not the skills, techniques or information they learn are confidential or not.
For advice on how to implement a restraint of trade clause into the workplace, contact Employsure on 0800 568 012.
