3 months notice - is it reasonable

[Travis Lee]

I have just been offered a job in HK. Employment contract states that I must provide 3 months notice upon termination of contract.
Is this the norm in Hong Kong? Where I come from, the norm is usually 1 month notice to employer.

Also, another clause is ban of working for competitor within 1 year of termination of contract. Is this also fair and normal practice in HK?

Appreciate your advise.

[funnie]

I have just been offered a job in HK. Employment contract states that I must provide 3 months notice upon termination of contract.
Is this the norm in Hong Kong? Where I come from, the norm is usually 1 month notice to employer.

Also, another clause is ban of working for competitor within 1 year of termination of contract. Is this also fair and normal practice in HK?

Appreciate your advise.

have they gave u a list of companies which they define as competitor.

[geo-seb]

Is this the norm in Hong Kong? Where I come from, the norm is usually 1 month notice to employer.

No, it is usually also 1 month notice in Hong Kong.

[theflyingbeagle]

In my experience, it very much depends on the grading of the role you will hold within the company. For example, for my job and many of my company peers in Hong Kong, we have to give 3 months notice (in reality normally hold you to 2) and we also have a clause where we cannot work for a competitor for a year, but the competitors are listed along with the fact that we cannot setup alone doing the same business and the scope is listed. However, the accounts assistant for example, only has to give one month. For your information, this policy is the same for my company world-wide, including the London office.

[freeier]

3 mth is less common, but its not exactly uncommon.

in the advertising industry it apparently is 2mths for ppl even in the junior ranks.

in banks the head of a desk has to give notice of 6~12 months.

non-competitive ruling is actually not easy to implement. if you can prove that it is the only way you can survive in HK, then even in court they can't really do much to you.. one has the right to work and survive.

[Travis Lee]

Hi
thanks for your prompt responses.

To Funnie, yes, the company listed the names of competitors but does states that the list is not limited to this companies.

The industry I am working in is media-related. And it's a sales and marketing position, at middle managerial position, however, not senior management. I understand the needs for senior management to provide longer period of notice, but a sales guy not even heading a department but in-charged of several territories/markets?

Furthermore, I am not on expat terms, it's local term.
Wonder if there's any room for neg?

Thanks in advance.

[climber07]

in banks the head of a desk has to give notice of 6~12 months.

A trader is typically dismissed immidiatly upon submitting his resignation, to prevent the conflict of interest and security issues.

[KnowItAll]

climber: from what I gather, they're dismissed as in they don't have to / cannot continue to work, however, the company does continue to pay them for their notice period.

Gardening leave ..

[Xin]

The industry I am working in is media-related. And it's a sales and marketing position, .... but in-charged of several territories/markets?

Most companies believe that Sales & marketing people, even not top mgt, could bring the clients and the whole sales&marketing team along with them when they leave. Therefore 3 months allow the company to contact the existing customers and make sure they could keep the customers in the long-term.

[freeier]

ya, nobody wld give 8 mth notice and stay in office chatting with friends. notice = break time. ahhaa..