New hire refuses to sign non-compete contract after receiving it weeks into their role, demands a meeting with CEO instead: 'I have no choice but to walk away'

Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor

Mar 5, 2026 4:00 PM EST

Would you sign a contract full of red flags after you already started a job?

Imagine you finally found a job after months of job searching. You get through the first couple of weeks, and everything is great. You enjoy the job, you like the company, and you even like the people. Then, almost a month into your new role, someone puts a contract at your desk and tells you to sign it, and as soon as you open it up, you realized to have been completely set up.

The notion of being forced into signing a contract after already starting the job is mind-boggling. It seems clear that the company is trying to trap this employee so they feel forced to sign it simply by letting them start the job before revealing this huge red flag, and if we were in this employee's place, we would run as fast as we could.

via Pressmaster

Man Concentrating on Reading Contract.
^{Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.}
Received an unfair non-compete 3 weeks into my new role

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$I immediately began reading and noticed several red flags: \- the most obvious, of course, is the timing \- it states that I cannot work for a competitor two years after I leave (I think at the beginning it originally read as three, then pivoted to two)\it says that I cannot hold other work outside of this job, which the$

via immajust_here
$owners know I own a consulting company \- it outlines in mile radius the areas in which I cannot compete (and it is one exhausting list) \- it says that I agree to my pay, although my role has already expanded in three weeks time \- and finally, it says I need to reimburse them up to $1,500 for training if I leave within two years I obviously did not sign it.$

via immajust_here
The reason we think this was an abvious set up is because this contract bluntly prevents the employee from looking for another job. As soon as they sign it, they are basically agreeing not to have another job, and even paying a fine if they try to quit.
The only thing they have left to do is leave before even picking up their pen.
However, this new hire is still hopeful that they could work this out with the company's CEO…
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via Alexander's Images

Businessman in Suit Tearing up Job Contract in Office Closeup
^{Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.}
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How frustrating is it to leave a job you just started, and thought would be perfect for you?
It can't be easy to come to the conclusion that the only thing you have left to do is leave, but that is truly the only outcome of this situation that will ensure the employee can actually look for another job.
We hope it won't be long before they find a better workplace, which is transparent with all their expectations, presented in a contract to sign before the actual starting date.
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