[redwoods]

This is not quite right: 1. In the UK you are not required to work three months after giving notice unless it is a provision of your contract of employment. If you don't have a written contract - then you will be entitled to a statutory notice period that roughly accrues in weekly units depending on years worked - but with cap. However,you can be paid in lieu of notice. It is fine to employ someone on one months notice - and less if they have worked for you for less than twelve months. 2. Restrictive covenants are unenforceable in the UK if they are unreasonably wide. ie you may be restricted for a year from hopping into a company that does the same thing in the same area. But not from using you transferable skills in a different company or different area. If someone tries to get you to sign to a two year, 200 mile radius, transferable skill / different business restriction - sign it and don't worry as it will not be enforceable.