A Quick Look at Non-Compete Clauses in Employment Contracts

By Jasmin Yek, Senior Associate and Franca Ciambella, Managing Director

Non-compete clauses are common in Singapore employment contracts.  However, all non-compete clauses are contrary to public policy and unenforceable unless they are reasonable in the interests of the parties to the employment contract and reasonable in the interest of the public. 

The clause must protect the employer’s legitimate proprietary interest (trade secrets, customers, employees e.t.c) to be enforceable.   

To be reasonable between the parties, the clause must not be wider than necessary in respect of scope, geographical area and the period of limitation. 

A non-compete clause that prevents an employee from working in the entire industry or other industries versus the work previously carried out by the employee would be too wide in scope, and unenforceable.

A non-compete clause with a worldwide geographical prohibition when the employee was working in one country would be considered too wide and unenforceable.

How long the employee can be restrained from similar work varies with the industry and circumstances.  If the period of limitation is unreasonably long, it will be unenforceable.

An example where a non-compete clause would not be enforced in the interest of the public is where the employer would have a monopoly.

Contact Info: Email:  fciambella@consiliumlaw.com.sg | Tel: +65 6235 2700
Website: www.consiliumlaw.com.sg

Ask the Dentist: Dental Crown Care

Q. How should I care for my dental crown?

A. Dental crowns that are well made and well cared for should last for many years. The best way to care for them will be a combination of regular visits to your dental specialist / dentist and good oral care routines.

Brush your teeth

Brush at least two times a day with a fluoridated toothpaste, for two minutes each time. It is important to brush along the gum line to remove the plaque that has accumulated.

Floss daily

Dental crowns trap food remnants the same way as our natural teeth. Flossing will help to remove them and prevent infection and gum disease. If you have a single crown, pull the floss outward (towards the outside of your mouth) instead of upward/downward (towards the opposite jaw).

Watch your diet

Avoid a high sugar diet as the tooth underneath the crown can still be prone to cavities and gum disease. It is also recommended for you to avoid biting on hard foods where your dental crowns are placed to prevent it from breaking or chipping.

Visit your dentist

As you may not sense the presence of dental problems around your crown, routine dental check-ups are crucial in maintaining the longevity of your dental crown. It allows your dentist / dental specialist to detect any issues early and prevent the need for major repair works.

Helping Vulnerable Communities During the Coronavirus

The CIS community spirit was in full action mode during the circuit breaker. One shining example was a group of Lakeside primary school students participating in a virtual walking challenge across Singapore and Canada to raise money for the charity HOME.

HOME (Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics) offers help to migrant workers across Singapore who have been displaced. During the current COVID-19 pandemic, the organisation is channeling donations to create self-care packs, fund doctors check-ups and other essential services for migrant workers in need. CIS students raised funds for this worthy cause by finding sponsors to pay them a certain amount if they completed the challenge. 

The walking challenge took place over three weeks. It kicked-off with a three-day, 36km walk across Singapore followed by a 10-day, 7,278 km walk across the trans-Canada highway from coast to coast. At the end of each week, participants filled out a form to show they had completed their steps along with sharing a photo of their efforts. 

“It was great to observe the positive and wide impact the initiative had on our different communities,” said Angela Hollington, CIS Lakeside primary school principal. “In addition to helping those in need, the challenge also helped keep everyone active and healthy, brought the community together and boosted the school spirit. It also reminded us of what can be accomplished when we work together as a team.”

For more information about CIS visit www.cis.edu.sg

Fitness Learning Style - Visual

  By Jessica Gan

In the last MLT, we talked about how to optimize your Zoom sessions. Fast forward post-Circuit Breaker and we see that Zoom and virtual workouts are here to stay. We will dive deeper into your fitness learning styles.  This issue covers Part 1, visual and we will cover Part 2, Auditory and Kinesthetic in the October issue.

Visual: Includes diagrams, charts and following the instructor’s movements

You may like... In studio classes or pre-recorded online tutorials.

Due to the restricted number of in-studio students, pre-recorded online classes that have Voice to Text instructions or written format may benefit you more (E.g. 10 push ups is clearly stated on screen with a stop-watch countdown..

Tips: Ask the instructor on Zoom to have pre-written instructions in the background or via a chat box.

Choose a Zoom class background that suits you, e.g., clean lines and a color that suits your eye.

Don’t be shy to ask the instructor to show the move first.