{"id":115289,"date":"2024-09-04T11:23:43","date_gmt":"2024-09-04T15:23:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jumpcloud.com\/?p=115289"},"modified":"2024-09-04T11:23:46","modified_gmt":"2024-09-04T15:23:46","slug":"ftc-non-compete-ban","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jumpcloud.com\/blog\/ftc-non-compete-ban","title":{"rendered":"The Ban That Wasn\u2019t: What Happened to the FTC\u2019s Non-Compete Ban?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Today was supposed<\/em> to mark a significant shift in employment law in the US: the Federal Trade Commission\u2019s (FTC) ban on non-compete clauses was set to go into effect. However, this anticipated change was blocked by a US District Court in Texas, leaving many wondering about the implications for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the IT professionals they employ. This blog will explore non-compete clauses, how the ban may have affected the market, and what its block means for SMEs and IT professionals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Are Non-Compete Clauses?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Generally, non-compete clauses are contractual agreements that prevent employees from leaving a company to work for a competitor or start their own competing business within a specific geographic area and timeframe. These clauses are intended to protect a company\u2019s trade secrets, client information, and other proprietary details. An estimated 18% of workers in the US<\/a> are bound to a non-compete clause.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The specifics of non-compete agreements can vary widely. Some may restrict employees from working with any competitor, while others might limit their activities to specific industries or geographic regions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the FTC\u2019s Proposed Ban<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) proposed a ban on all non-compete clauses except those that apply to senior executives. The ban aimed to address concerns that non-compete clauses are an \u201cunfair method of competition.\u201d The FTC argues that non-competes restrict career opportunities, suppress wage growth, and limit market innovation. It projects that doing away with non-competes would:<\/p>\n\n\n\n