Poland: Non-competition agreement rules criticised

The widespread and increasing use of non-competition agreements, affecting up to 90% of employees in some sectors, has been a matter of debate in Poland in late 2007, with some employment law experts arguing that the current rules are highly unfavourable to employees.

A recent survey conducted by the Gazeta Prawna business journal found that non-competition agreements - whereby employees are prevented from working in the same field for a competing employer after leaving their job - have been signed by around 90% of employees in the real estate sector, 50% of those in new technology sectors and 20%-30% of those working in banks, financial institutions and insurance.