A key departure can feel like a storm rolling in. A calm, orderly first week protects your business and keeps the relationship as professional as possible.
A first-week plan
- Review what the employee signed: offer letter, confidentiality, non-solicitation or non-compete terms.
- Recover company devices and access in a respectful, documented way.
- Remind the employee in writing of any continuing obligations, without threats.
- Talk to customers and the team with a short, factual message.
- Preserve records in case questions come up later.
Whether restrictive covenants can be enforced depends on their wording and the facts, and the rules continue to change. Before taking any action against a former employee, get advice on the specific agreements involved.