Some states (California and a few others) have made non-competes void by statute, but even in states that have not passed anti-non-compete laws, courts have been trending toward avoiding enforcement of these provisions (in favor of the employee) for years.
Yes, if you have signed one with your employer. However, non-compete clauses are operable only for a reasonable period of time only even if the clause mentions otherwise.
Every state has its own law regarding the use of non-competes. For example, in California, they are deemed illegal, except when selling a business or a shareholder's stock or dissolution of a partnership; while in Florida, they are allowed but are subject to strict scrutiny.
As previously reported (Dentons Alert), the US Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) issued a regulation earlier this year that effectively bans most non-competes for employees and independent contractors (the “FTC Rule”). The effective date of the FTC Rule is September 4, 2024.
On July 23, 2024, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed the Fair Contracting for Health Care Practitioners Act (the “Act”), which bans certain noncompete covenants, including patient nonsolicitation provisions, between an employer and health care practitioner if the covenant is more than one year or the health care ...
Pennsylvania courts have generally found non-compete agreements to be enforceable if the agreement is incident to an employment relationship between the employer and employee; the restriction imposed is reasonably necessary for the protection of the employer's business interest; and the restrictions imposed are ...
The following are the most common ways to get out of a non-compete agreement: Determine that the terms of the contract do not in fact prevent you from a desired course of action. Recognize when a non-compete contradicts the law. Negotiate a release agreement with the involved parties. Ignore the agreement.
Because independent contractors operate independently and engage in their own business, they are not subject to the same restrictions as employees. As such, non-compete agreements are less likely to be enforced against independent contractors in California.