Page 143 - The UnCaptive Agent

116 THE UNCAPTIVE AGENT

book of business. Protecting the continuing relationship
with clients is, therefore, a must. Because of this, every
employee, whether clerical, production, or support staff,
must sign a written agreement guaranteeing they will
abide by your confidentiality and non-piracy policies
as a condition of employment.
In these employment agreements, the most import-
ant provision is the non-piracy clause. A non-piracy
provision makes it clear that no clients of the agency
may be solicited for any other purpose than the business
purposes of the agency during employment or any time
thereafter. These non-piracy provisions also include
a prohibition against any former employee soliciting
your clients after their termination of employment.
The non-piracy and confidentiality agreement make it
clear that the processes, policies, procedures, and client
information in your agency are the agency’s exclusive
property and may not be revealed by an employee to
anyone outside of your business, either during their
employment or at any time afterward. These provisions
are critically important in protecting you and the busi-
ness that you build.
Employment agreements generally also restate the
most important points of your employee manual, includ-
ing the working hours, holidays, eligibility for personal
time off (PTO), sick leave, and the like. Many agencies
also include a list of the employee benefits that employ-
ees are entitled to along with their compensation.

Payroll Particulars

As an employer, there are certain Wage and Hour
requirements you will need to meet from the day you
open your doors. You must establish an Employer
Identification Number (EIN, the business version of a