Add information about the parties involved. Describe the terms of the Non-Compete Agreement, such as the length and area of the restriction. If necessary, you can include a non-solicitation clause. Add a confidentiality clause.
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.
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.
In New York, courts largely disfavor non-compete agreements and enforce them only when necessary. They consider four factors when determining whether to enforce an agreement: If the agreement protects legitimate business interests, e.g. trade secrets or special skills acquired during employment.
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.
compete is only allowed and enforceable to the extent it (1) is necessary to protect the employer's legitimate interests, (2) does not impose an undue hardship on the employee, (3) does not harm the public, and (4) is reasonable in time period and geographic scope.
Takeaways. On December 23, 2023, Gov. Kathy Hochul vetoed the New York State Legislature's proposed ban on all new non-compete agreements.
Choropleth map showing California, Minnesota, North Dakota and Oklahoma have full bans on noncompete agreements. Nine states and D.C. have restrictions on noncompetes based on an employee's income level. 25 states have other restrictions on noncompetes while 12 states have no restrictions.