A noncompete agreement has the ability to threaten your future job prospects, prohibit you from using your hard earned skills and compromise your livelihood. Fortunately, it is unlawful for an employer to enforce non-compete agreements in California.
Several factors can void or limit the enforceability of a non-compete agreement, including overly broad restrictions, unreasonable time frames or geographical limits, lack of consideration (such as compensation or job opportunities provided in exchange for the agreement), and violation of public policy.
A noncompete is unenforceable if it restricts an employee's ability to exercise their rights under federal law. No employer may enter into a covenant not to compete or a covenant not to solicit with any employee. Existing noncompetes are void and unenforceable, including out-of-state noncompetes.
New York courts will only enforce them in only very rare limited situations. As explained more below, we are able to defeat most non-compete agreements by using the Legitimate Business Interests Test. A court will only enforce a non-compete agreement if the company can satisfy this test and most companies cannot do so.
The legislation proposed a sweeping and aggressive prohibition of new non-compete agreements with employees and other workers and service providers, without any exceptions for highly compensated employees, for partners leaving a partnership or even for non-competes entered into in the sale of a business context.
The New York State Legislature passed a bill on June 30, 2023, that, if signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul, will prohibit almost all new non-competition agreements for workers.
Summary: This bill would prohibit employers from entering into non-compete agreements with employees, and it would rescind any non-compete agreements that predate the effective date of this bill. Employers would be subject to a $500 civil penalty for each violation of this bill. Ver.
Courts tend to enforce agreements targeting employee non-solicitation, as they view these as less burdensome than customer restrictions. However, restrictions must still meet New York's enforceability criteria.
Fortunately, it is unlawful for an employer to enforce non-compete agreements in California.