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Physician Contract Glossary · Restrictive Covenants

Length of Restriction

The length of restriction is how long a non-compete or other covenant binds you after you leave.

This is the duration of a restrictive covenant, most commonly one to two years post-departure. Courts in many states scrutinize duration closely, and anything beyond two years is often viewed as unreasonable for a physician. The length interacts with the geographic scope: a long duration over a wide radius is the most burdensome combination and the one most worth negotiating down.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

Push the duration to one year or less where you can, and check how your state's courts treat the length. A two-year clause over a wide area can force a temporary career change or a move.

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