This exchange was clarifying to me. In a statement to Insider, a Voleon spokesman said: "Like most hedge funds, in order to protect its most sensitive intelle

This exchange was clarifying to me. In a statement to Insider, a Voleon spokesman said: "Like most hedge funds, in order to protect its most sensitive intellectual property, Voleon requests that select employees sign noncompetition agreements. Voleon's non-compete agreements are not a condition of employment. Those who sign it will receive a paid garden leave. Those who haven't signed it remain employed at Voleon, but may not receive access to the most sensitive intellectual property." The Voleon ex-employees who spoke to Insider said their noncompete agreements did not provide paid leave. Ex-employees and other sources close to the firm said the unpaid noncompetes have been applied broadly — including to people who say they had little exposure to the firm's secret sauce. They described the firm's noncompetes as a de facto condition of employment and said the firm was taking measures to restrict employees from joining competitors as recently as this year.