I'm about to sign a contract for a new job. I objected to the non-compete clause because it felt too restrictive. Can someone give me a good example of a single paragraph non-compete clause? (if there is such a thing)
Company is your basic web development / outsourcing / hosting shop.
That said: a "reasonable" noncompete:
(a) Is limited in scope to actual customers of the hosting company
(b) Is limited to the precise role you perform for the company
(c) Includes consideration, such as some form of severance
In many jurisdictions, noncompetes are implicitly and severely limited in duration. In California, of course, they can't be enforced (as part of an employment contract) at all.