I would check with an attorney about the semantics and specific language of the non-competition and non-solicitation aspects of the agreement that every regional director, general manager, general sales manager, sales manager, and sales representative or sales assistant signed as a requirement of their employment.
You will no doubt soon notice (if you have not yet received it) that a copy has been conveniently provided to you as part of your separation and severance package as a glaring reminder of how bad your life is really about to become.
The real issue is that COX has in fact abandoned print, but not dealer advertising and marketing per se and they know it.They have simply transitioned to a 100% online media strategy. The non-compete specifies that you will not provide services directly or indirectly, in connection with the marketing, sales, promotion, production, or distribution of any conflicting product in any conflicting territory.
However, all it may take is a precedent somewhere in the country where a judge interprets the actions by COX of slapping a restraining order on a sales person who goes out and simply tries to make a living doing what they know best as unjust, unfair, and with malicious intent on the part of the big monster company that first lays off hundreds of loyal employees and then tries to prevent them from gaining employment in the 10% unemployment world that we are all about to experience first-hand. After all, the true intent of the non-compete was just to keep people from jumping ship and divulging secrets, or after they got fired for being lousy sales people who would not make it anywhere else anyway.
Interesting puzzle for them. If COX comes on too strong here, what will happen is that every [former] advocate of the organization is going to hear from their former reps on how their dear friends and consultants who made their ndealerships successful are being absolutely trampled over every which way by the huge company that now wants to cram 3 internet sites down their throats and ask for more money yet essentially telling them at the same time that the thousands that they have been spending up to this point on print was a huge waste of money? Good luck with that one!
While you should not make disparaging remarks about your former employer or make inaccurate statements, you are still allowed to speak your mind. Remember that the voice of one may be small and faint... I would hope that when the collective voice of the many afflicted who rise up and state their case honestly and without prejudice and simply and truthfully tell their story, that things will perhaps change for the better and people will be allowed to work in their chosen field of expertise.
