Non-compete clauses in employment contracts are socially destructive and should not be enforced by the courts. The USA FTC has proposed a ban on non-compete clauses, and is currently in the 'public comment' phase of the regulation. https://www.npr.org/2023/01/05/1147138052/workers-noncompete-agreements-ftc-lina-khan-ban
#labor #rights #USA #politics #jobs #competition
@pluralistic
A non-compete clause led to the death of my best friend's husband.
He had been selling sporting goods his entire career. The company was bought and his new boss didn't like him. Compelled him to sign a contract with a non-compete, forced him out with a severance package.
Unable to work in the only field he knew, he went to work on his brother's lobster boat, died of a massive stroke (not a good idea to take up lobstering at 52.)
@gaffa @DecaturNature @pluralistic I’m so sorry.
@Tbsa @DecaturNature @pluralistic
Thank you. But it is a really good example of why this particular legal tool, which benefits the company exclusively, can really destroy somebody's life.
@gaffa @Tbsa @pluralistic The idea that a person can just sign away their right to make a living is horrendous. Enforcement of these agreements is a prime example of a system that is just meant to keep people down -- get them in a bad position where they feel like they have to agree to bad terms, and then they can be locked into that bad position for the rest of their lives (affecting their kids too). It's completely incompatible with the idea that we have inalienable rights to life and liberty.
@DecaturNature @gaffa @Tbsa @pluralistic
There are some contract terms that are unenforceable, as Ghost & Decatur already mentioned.
We need to expand the list of terms.
@DecaturNature @gaffa @pluralistic Greed and power is what it’s all about.