Noncompete agreements are void and prohibited by law in California.
∎ The Rule applies to noncompetes with all workers, whether full-time or part-time, including employees, independent contractors, interns, externs, volunteers, apprentices, and others—but there are different requirements for senior executives as defined by the Rule (see Questions 5-6).
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.
On April 23, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission issued its long-awaited Final Non-Compete Clause Rule, which operates to ban most post-employment non-compete agreements between employers and their workers.
Outside of those industries, the major exceptions include (1) existing agreements for “senior executives” (defined below), (2) non-competes entered into in connection with the bona fide sale of a business, and (3) non-competes enforced where the cause of action accrued prior to the rule's effective date.
Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (FTC Act) (15 USC 45) prohibits ''unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce. '' The prohibition applies to all persons engaged in commerce, including banks.
Consider Legal Action. If negotiations do not yield a satisfactory result, you may need to consider legal action. This could involve filing a lawsuit to challenge the enforceability of the non-compete agreement or seeking a court order to invalidate the agreement.
Non-compete agreements can represent between 0.3% to 7.0% of the value of an acquired business enterprise, depending on the industry segment. The upcoming FTC rule to ban most of these agreements starting in September 2024 could significantly alter the market dynamics and perceived value of these agreements.
Compensation: An employer must offer some benefit to the employee in exchange for limiting future opportunities. For new employees, the job offer itself is generally considered sufficient compensation. Still, existing employees asked to sign a covenant not to compete may be entitled to a raise or promotion.
QUICK SUMMARY: In California, noncompete agreements that are intended to prevent or restrain an employee from engaging in another lawful possession, trade or business during their employment have long been unenforceable.