> The coercion is usually that you don't know about the non-compete until you walk in and sign your employment contract on day 1.

Okay this is really bad, in the EU country where I live you usually first negotiate and sign the contract, then start working.

But the drawback is that it is really just done this way because the government requires that the business notifies it about your employment before you start working, which is a privacy issue.

I think I'd still prefer it the US way. I'd ask about this before starting to work. (if this isn't a no go)