Eleven states plus Washington, D.C. have wage thresholds or other criteria that must be satisfied before a noncompete can be used. We now know that six have increased. Are your noncompetes still compliant?
Quick update: 18 states have 42 new noncompete bills, and Congress has 3. The ramp-up to legislatively limit noncompetes continues.
The day an employee shows up for their first day of work is often the day they learn that a noncompete is a requirement of the job. But, according to a 2015 study by Professors Evan Starr, J.J. Prescott, and Norm Bishara, providing advance notice that a noncompete will be required actually leads to 11% more training and 6.6% more job satisfaction. Eight states plus D.C. now have some requirements. Make sure you are complying.
Episode 21 of Fairly Competing is out! Join us in a discussion with Professor Evan Start about the research behind the FTC’s proposed noncompete ban.
The deadline to comment on FTC’s proposed rule to ban noncompetes may be extended to May 19. Make sure your voice is heard, whether joining us in our letter or separately.
The FTC’s proposed rule to ban noncompetes will publish in the federal register tomorrow. If you care, you have until March 20 (assuming no extensions) to make sure your voice is heard. You are welcome to join us in our letter.
Our updated graph of noncompete, trade secret, and DTSA decisions is now available. Noncompete decisions remain level, while trade secret decisions continue to trend up.
Forty-seven state legislatures as well as Washington, D.C. – with the approval of Congress – have spent years honing their noncompete laws to fit their local communities and industries. In one fell swoop, three Commissioners at the FTC are proposing to undo all of it. With it, they will also eliminate the use of a broad swath of nondisclosure, nonsolicitation, no-service, no-recruit, and no-hire agreements. Companies have six things they need to do now.
US Rep Spartz sent a brief letter to the FTC raising concerns about the proposed rule to ban noncompetes.
Our 50-state (plus DC) chart of noncompete laws has been updated and is available here.
There is a fifth decision involving a noncompete under the Massachusetts Noncompetition Agreement Act, G.L. c. 149, § 24L - and it provides some helpful guidance.
Keeping track of the flood of noncompete and trade secret law changes across the country is no easy task. Here are some resources to make it easier.
Eleven states plus Washington, D.C. have wage thresholds or other criteria that must be satisfied before a noncompete can be used. They are changing again. Will your noncompetes be compliant?
Eleven states plus Washington, D.C. now have wage thresholds or other criteria that must be satisfied before a noncompete can be used. Are your noncompetes compliant?
Washington, D.C.’s new noncompete law will take effect on October 1, 2022. See what you need to know.
A new federal bill to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act to ban noncompetes — both retroactively and prospectively — for nonexempt workers.
Knowing the noncompete and trade secret laws across 50 states, plus D.C., is no easy task. And keeping track of the flood of changes in recent years makes it all the more difficult. Unfortunately, it’s not something you can ignore. Because of this, we have created several resources that make the task easier. We hope you find them helpful.
Given that good CLE programs can be hard to identify, I put together a list of a few upcoming, content-rich programs that I and leading practitioners, in-house counsel, experts, and others from around the country are participating in.
Our 50-state (plus DC) chart of noncompete laws has been updated and is available here.
While most people reading this blog will know that California has a statute that bans noncompetes, it may come as a surprise that employers have dealt with that prohibition by turning to trade secret law for protection as far back as 1913 — even for low-level employees.
D.C.’s upcoming noncompete law says that it will apply as of October 1, 2022. But it is not scheduled to become “effective” until November 10, 2022. Where does that leave us?
The Key to Seeking and Defending Against Temporary Restraining Orders (Fairly Competing, Episode 16)
Episode 16 of Fairly Competing is out! In this episode, we discuss what you need to know when you are either seeking or defending against a temporary restraining order in a trade secret or noncompete case.
Just as the D.C. Council was poised to walk back its 2021 unfunded noncompete ban and permit noncompetes for most people earning over $150,000, the D.C. Council amended the amendment to exempt broadcast industry employees, regardless of how much they earn. The final amendment is now with the Mayor.
Our 50-state (plus DC) chart of noncompete laws has been updated for recent developments in Hawai‘i. It is available here.