I've black lined a lot of clauses in employee agreements like the one in the article. When questioned by the company I tell them I cannot agree to such terms at the salary being offered and generally propose what I consider to be an outlandish number as salary plus paid PTO in exchange for it. Typically, the company just signs. Sometimes they tell me to eff off. Only once has someone paid me what I thought was an absurd rate to not work for their competitor.

My current non-compete is in the finance industry and uses paid salary during garden leave as a way of avoiding non-compete laws. Nobody esp cares whether it is legal since its a year or two paid vacation.