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Comment by krakensden | Hacker News Reader

> Not only because suing an entrepreneur can cause major reputational damage, but also because the entrepreneur still has the right (in California) to just up and leave

Because clearly the world would be a better place if financial agreements were more like indentured servitude.

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While I am reluctant to suggest that the courts require specific performance (continuing to work) for employment contracts, awarding damages to the other party does not seem terrible. Does California law allow for damages to be awarded in such cases?

> While I am reluctant to suggest that the courts require specific performance (continuing to work) for employment contracts, awarding damages to the other party does not seem terrible.

Why are you assuming that "employees" will sign such contracts?

Suppose someone shows up to work. How does the court determine whether they're working per contract? (If someone says "I don't have any patentable inventions this month", do you think that they should be penalized?)

CA allows non-competes in certain circumstances.

in particular CA courts will enforce non-competes against the owners of one company who sell it to another. This means that the acqui-hired can be subject to an enforceable non-compete by the acquiring company.

I see your argument. Unless an employment contract stipulates specific work deliverables (even showing up, etc.) , it really is just a non-compete which might require the employee to pay the employer in the case of early termination by the employee.

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