The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has proposed a rule which
would essentially bar noncompete agreements. The FTC’s
press release states:
The Federal Trade Commission proposed
a new rule that would ban employers from imposing noncompetes on their
workers, a widespread and often exploitative practice that suppresses wages,
hampers innovation, and blocks entrepreneurs from starting new businesses. By
stopping this practice, the agency estimates that the new proposed rule could
increase wages by nearly $300 billion per year and expand career opportunities
for about 30 million Americans.
The FTC is seeking public comment on the proposed rule, which
is based on a preliminary finding that noncompetes constitute an unfair method
of competition and therefore violate Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission
Act.
“The freedom to change jobs is core to economic liberty and
to a competitive, thriving economy,” said Chair Lina M. Khan. “Noncompetes
block workers from freely switching jobs, depriving them of higher wages and
better working conditions, and depriving businesses of a talent pool that they
need to build and expand. By ending this practice, the FTC’s proposed rule
would promote greater dynamism, innovation, and healthy competition.”
Companies use noncompetes for workers across industries and
job levels, from hairstylists and warehouse workers to doctors and business
executives. In many cases, employers use their outsized bargaining power to
coerce workers into signing these contracts. Noncompetes harm competition in
U.S. labor markets by blocking workers from pursuing better opportunities and
by preventing employers from hiring the best available talent.
“Research shows that employers’ use of noncompetes to
restrict workers’ mobility significantly suppresses workers’ wages—even for
those not subject to noncompetes, or subject to noncompetes that are
unenforceable under state law," said Elizabeth Wilkins, Director of the
Office of Policy Planning. “The proposed rule would ensure that employers can’t
exploit their outsized bargaining power to limit workers’ opportunities and
stifle competition.”
The evidence shows that noncompete clauses also hinder
innovation and business dynamism in multiple ways—from preventing would-be
entrepreneurs from forming competing businesses, to inhibiting workers from
bringing innovative ideas to new companies. This ultimately harms consumers; in
markets with fewer new entrants and greater concentration, consumers can face
higher prices—as seen in the health care sector.
To address these problems, the FTC’s proposed rule would
generally prohibit employers from using noncompete clauses. Specifically, the
FTC’s new rule would make it illegal for an employer to:
- enter into or attempt to enter into a noncompete with
a worker;
- maintain a noncompete with a worker; or
- represent to a worker, under certain circumstances,
that the worker is subject to a noncompete.
The proposed rule would apply to independent contractors and
anyone who works for an employer, whether paid or unpaid. It would also require
employers to rescind existing noncompetes and actively inform workers that they
are no longer in effect.
The proposed rule would generally not apply to other types of
employment restrictions, like non-disclosure agreements. However, other types
of employment restrictions could be subject to the rule if they are so broad in
scope that they function as noncompetes.
This NPRM aligns with the FTC’s
recent statement to reinvigorate Section 5 of the FTC Act, which bans
unfair methods of competition. The FTC recently used its Section 5 authority to
ban companies from imposing onerous noncompetes on their workers. In one
complaint, the FTC took action against a Michigan-based security guard company
and its key executives for using coercive noncompetes on low-wage employees.
The Commission also ordered two of the largest U.S. glass container
manufacturers to stop imposing noncompetes on their workers because they
obstruct competition and impede new companies from hiring the talent needed to
enter the market. This NPRM and recent enforcement actions make progress on the
agency’s broader
initiative to use all of its tools and authorities to promote fair
competition in labor markets.
The Commission voted 3-1 to publish the Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking, which is the first step in the FTC’s rulemaking process. Chair
Khan, Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter and Commissioner Alvaro Bedoya issued
a statement. Commissioner Slaughter, joined by Commissioner Bedoya, issued
an additional statement. Commissioner Christine S. Wilson voted no
and also
issued a statement.
The NPRM invites the public to submit comments on the
proposed rule. The FTC will review the comments and may make changes, in a
final rule, based on the comments and on the FTC’s further analysis of this
issue. Comments will be due 60 days after the Federal Register publishes
the proposed rule. The public comment period will be open soon.
The proposed rule states [I’ve modified this post to include
the entire rule.]:
910.1 Definitions
(a) Business entity means a partnership,
corporation, association, limited liability company, or other legal entity, or
a division or subsidiary thereof.
(b) Non-compete clause.
(1) Non-compete clause means a contractual
term between an employer and a worker that prevents the worker from seeking or
accepting employment with a person, or operating a business, after the
conclusion of the worker’s employment with the employer.
(2) Functional test for whether a contractual term is
a non-compete clause. The term non-compete clause includes a
contractual term that is a de facto non-compete clause because
it has the effect of prohibiting the worker from seeking or accepting
employment with a person or operating a business after the conclusion of the
worker’s employment with the employer. For example, the following types of
contractual terms, among others, may be de facto non-compete
clauses:
i. A non-disclosure agreement between an employer and a
worker that is written so broadly that it effectively precludes the worker from
working in the same field after the conclusion of the worker’s employment with
the employer.
ii. A contractual term between an employer and a worker that
requires the worker to pay the employer or a third-party entity for training
costs if the worker’s employment terminates within a specified time period,
where the required payment is not reasonably related to the costs the employer
incurred for training the worker.
(c) Employer means a person, as defined in
15 U.S.C. 57b-1(a)(6), that hires or contracts with a worker to work
for the person.
(d) Employment means work for an employer,
as the term employer is defined in paragraph (c) of this section.
(e) Substantial owner, substantial member,
and substantial partner mean an owner, member, or partner
holding at least a 25 percent ownership interest in a business entity.
(f) Worker means a natural person who works,
whether paid or unpaid, for an employer. The term includes, without limitation,
an employee, individual classified as an independent contractor, extern,
intern, volunteer, apprentice, or sole proprietor who provides a service to a
client or customer. The term worker does not include a franchisee in the
context of a franchisee-franchisor relationship; however, the term worker
includes a natural person who works for the franchisee or franchisor.
Non-compete clauses between franchisors and franchisees would remain subject to
Federal antitrust law as well as all other applicable law.
910.2 Unfair Methods of Competition
(a) Unfair methods of competition. It is an
unfair method of competition for an employer to enter into or attempt to enter
into a non-compete clause with a worker; maintain with a worker a non-compete
clause; or represent to a worker that the worker is subject to a non-compete
clause where the employer has no good faith basis to believe that the worker is
subject to an enforceable non-compete clause.
(b) Existing non-compete clauses.
(1) Rescission requirement. To comply with
paragraph (a) of this section, which states that it is an unfair method of
competition for an employer to maintain with a worker a non-compete clause, an
employer that entered into a non-compete clause with a worker prior to the
compliance date must rescind the non-compete clause no later than the
compliance date.
(2) Notice requirement.
(A) An employer that rescinds a non-compete clause pursuant
to paragraph (b)(1) of this section must provide notice to the worker that the
worker’s non-compete clause is no longer in effect and may not be enforced
against the worker. The employer must provide the notice to the worker in an
individualized communication. The employer must provide the notice on paper or
in a digital format such as, for example, an email or text message. The
employer must provide the notice to the worker within 45 days of rescinding the
non-compete clause.
(B) The employer must provide the notice to a worker who
currently works for the employer. The employer must also provide the notice to
a worker who formerly worked for the employer, provided that the employer has
the worker’s contact information readily available.
(C) The following model language constitutes notice to the
worker that the worker’s non-compete clause is no longer in effect and may not
be enforced against the worker, for purposes of paragraph (b)(2)(A) of this
section. An employer may also use different language, provided that the notice
communicates to the worker that the worker’s non-compete clause is no longer in
effect and may not be enforced against the worker.
A new rule enforced by the Federal Trade Commission makes it
unlawful for us to maintain a non-compete clause in your employment contract.
As of [DATE 180 DAYS AFTER DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE FINAL RULE], the
non-compete clause in your contract is no longer in effect. This means that
once you stop working for [EMPLOYER NAME]:
- You may seek or accept a job with any company or any
person—even if they compete with [EMPLOYER NAME].
- You may run your own business—even if it competes
with [EMPLOYER NAME].
- You may compete with [EMPLOYER NAME] at any time
following your employment with [EMPLOYER NAME].
The FTC’s new rule does not affect any other terms of your
employment contract. For more information about the rule, visit https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/federal-register-notices/non-compete-clause-rulemaking.
(3) Safe harbor. An employer complies with the
rescission requirement in paragraph (b)(1) of this section where it provides
notice to a worker pursuant to paragraph (b)(2) of this section.
910.3 Exception
The requirements of this Part 910 shall not apply to a
non-compete clause that is entered into by a person who is selling a business
entity or otherwise disposing of all of the person’s ownership interest in the
business entity, or by a person who is selling all or substantially all of a
business entity’s operating assets, when the person restricted by the
non-compete clause is a substantial owner of, or substantial member or
substantial partner in, the business entity at the time the person enters into
the non-compete clause. Non-compete clauses covered by this exception would
remain subject to Federal antitrust law as well as all other applicable law.
910.4 Relation to State Laws
This Part 910 shall supersede any State statute, regulation, order, or interpretation to the extent that such statute, regulation, order, or interpretation is inconsistent with this Part 910. A State statute, regulation, order, or interpretation is not inconsistent with the provisions of this Part 910 if the protection such statute, regulation, order, or interpretation affords any worker is greater than the protection provided under this Part 910.
The proposed rule itself is interesting because of its
breadth. It does not make a distinction based on the reasonableness
of the restriction, such as taking into account time, geographic scope or level
of employment of the worker, such as an executive or researcher. It
does not make a distinction between types of businesses, such as research
intensive industries. It also seems to leave a number of questions
open concerning the protection of trade secrets and other valuable
know-how. In some ways the rule is a double-edged sword—a company
may lose employees, but may also gain them. It does seem that it may
favor companies with the resources to lure employees of competitors
away. The question of competition between countries and the
protection of trade secrets is fascinating as well. Interestingly,
the noncompete rule seems to include agreements for additional consideration
such as payment for the agreement not to compete.
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