Fresh off of signing the Defend Trade Secrets Act, the White House released a report yesterday entitled “Non-Compete Reform: A Policymaker’s Guide to State Policies,” which contains information on state policies related to the enforcement of non-compete agreements. Additionally, the White House issued a “Call to Action” that encourages state legislators to adopt policies to reduce the misuse of non-compete agreements and recommends certain reforms to state law books.
The “Non-Compete Reform: A Policymaker’s Guide to State Policies,” which relied heavily on Seyfarth Shaw’s “50 State Desktop Reference: What Employers Need to Know About Non-Compete and Trade Secrets Law,” suggests that non-compete clauses have recently become more widespread, impacting 18% of all workers and 15% of employees without a college degree. The report analyzes the various states that have enacted statutes governing the enforcement of non-compete agreements and the ways in which those statutes address aspects of non-compete enforceability, including durational limitations; occupation-specific exemptions; wage thresholds; “garden leave;” enforcement doctrines; and prior notice requirements.Continue Reading The White House’s Call to Action: A Step in the Right Direction or a Bridge Too Far?