>there is obviously an element of competition here As there should be. Do you not like free markets? >her regular clients may follow her Good. Her value is

>there is obviously an element of competition here As there should be. Do you not like free markets? >her regular clients may follow her Good. Her value is not "doing hair" it's attracting clients (i.e. you can be very good at doing hair but have a personality that makes no one want to deal with you). That's what defines her market value that she's selling every day. If she finds a customer (i.e. company) willing to pay her a better rate for the value she provides (i.e. clients) then the rational thing for her to do is move her offering to that customer (i.e. company). >the non-compete should be specific and fair The existence of a non-compete is unfair. They only exist because of the power deficit between companies and workers.