Still confused at their abrupt departure from your employ, you start contacting all of your regular clients. You begin learning that many of them have already been solicited by your former employee. Your fears are confirmed and the pain hits you like a knife in the back.

To add insult to injury the new rates quoted are nearly half what you charge and your clients are wanting some fast answers to your much higher fees. Some thinking that you are gouging them start jumping ship faster than rats on a sinking and burning ship.

Upon examining your options you discover that it's to late. Now you're considering that maybe you should have put together that "Non-Compete"..., "Non-Solicit" ... or "Non-Divulge" contract.

You could of had that individual sign it, before they worked one minute for you. At least that's what some business owners have told you they do. In hind sight that solution now seems fair and reasonable.

Well it's reasonable until you learn that your state, county or city laws no longer allow such binding contracts. Or local laws do not prevent such contracts, but the courts find in favor of your competitor's claims.

Claims that you are preventing them from obtaining gainful employment, that they have trained for, even if it means they have become your newest competitor. Not to mention that your existing clients are not under written contract with you to remain your clients.

If this has happened to you, understand that you are not alone in this. You are but one more in the vicious cycle of abuse, that other businessmen and women have suffered, at the outright betrayal from their so called "Trusted Employees".