@pluralistic No discussion of non-competes would be complete without mentioning Garden Leave.
Most Formula 1 teams are based in the UK, which isn't friendly to non-compete clauses. But, some engineers on the racing teams truly have secret information about their race cars. So, how do the teams handle that? Garden Leave (a.k.a. Gardening Leave).
If Red Bull Racing thinks the information in your head is so critical that you can't be allowed to go join McLaren's F1 team right away, they use Garden Leave. Instead of coming to work every day, Red Bull pays you your full salary and benefits to stay home and so nothing (or do some gardening) for a few months. Then, you're free to switch teams.
This puts the onus on the employer, not the employee. If McDonalds fry cooks have such critical information in their heads, let McDonalds pay for a Garden Leave for employees who want to switch to Wendy's instead of using a non-compete.
pluralistic
wonka