{"version":"1.0","provider_name":"Finoptima","provider_url":"https:\/\/finoptima.ch\/en\/","author_name":"admin@finoptima.ch","author_url":"https:\/\/finoptima.ch\/en\/author\/adminfinoptima-ch\/","title":"Non-competition clause in sales - Finoptima","type":"rich","width":600,"height":338,"html":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"9NKFZWPgPG\"><a href=\"https:\/\/finoptima.ch\/en\/non-competition-clause-in-sales\/\">Non-competition clause in sales<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/finoptima.ch\/en\/non-competition-clause-in-sales\/embed\/#?secret=9NKFZWPgPG\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;Non-competition clause in sales&#8221; &#8212; Finoptima\" data-secret=\"9NKFZWPgPG\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script>\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/\/# sourceURL=https:\/\/finoptima.ch\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-embed.min.js\n<\/script>\n","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/finoptima.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1716.jpg","thumbnail_width":900,"thumbnail_height":651,"description":"Non-competition clause in sales: protection against migration or sign of a lack of leadership culture? Anyone who works in sales, whether in key account management, office sales or management, is responsible for sensitive information: price calculations, market strategies, customer dossiers, internal processes. When a key figure leaves the company, the question quickly arises: How do we protect our business, legally, operationally and culturally? A frequently chosen path: the non-competition clause. From a legal point of view, this is regulated in Switzerland by Art. 340 et seq. of the Swiss Code of Obligations. It must: be agreed in writing (e.g. in the employment contract or separate appendix) relate to the specific field of activity and geographical area Be proportionate, in particular in terms of duration (max. 3 years), effect and economic impact only apply where there is a legitimate interest of the employer Such an interest exists if: the employee had insight into essential trade secrets or had personal customer relationships that could cause considerable damage if used in competition The following are not protected: General market knowledge publicly available information Personal work experience or soft skills The blanket sentence &#8220;You are not allowed to go to the competition&#8221; is not legally sufficient. Nor is it enough to write a non-compete clause into the contract as a mere threatening backdrop. Courts scrutinize strictly in the event of a dispute and often declare clauses invalid or significantly reduce them. And what does this mean for sales practice? I recommend a double perspective here: 1. Preventive: Managers should not rely exclusively on contracts, but on lived loyalty. If you create a loyal culture, you don&#8217;t have to be afraid of poaching. Fluctuation is not a legal problem, but often an emotional one. 2. Strategic: Where it is legally tenable and makes economic sense (e.g. in the case of exclusive customer contracts, sensitive data or personal trust), a well-formulated non-competition clause can make sense, but always in combination with clear onboarding, offboarding and knowledge assurance processes. After all, a non-compete clause never provides complete protection and does not replace a clever personnel strategy. A company that only keeps top performers through contracts has long since lost them on a human level. Unleash potential &#8211; celebrate success."}