Posted on 07/15/2017 8:58:41 PM PDT by Theoria
Idaho achieved a notable distinction last year: It became one of the hardest places in America for someone to quit a job for a better one.
The state did this by making it easier for companies to enforce noncompete agreements, which prevent employees from leaving their company for a competitor.
While its economy is known for agriculture — potatoes are among the state’s biggest exports — Idaho has a long history as a technology hub. And the new law landed in the middle of the tech world, causing a clash between hungry start-ups looking to poach employees and more established companies that want to lock their people in place.
“We’re trying to build the tech ecosystem in Boise,” said George Mulhern, chief executive of Cradlepoint, a company here that makes routers and other networking equipment. “And anything that would make somebody not want to move here or start a company here is going to slow down our progress.” Continue reading the main story
Alex LaBeau, president of the Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry, a trade group that represents many of the state’s biggest employers, countered: “This is about companies protecting their assets in a competitive marketplace.”
Versions of this clash have played out nationwide, as state lawmakers consider whether to make it easier or harder for companies to block workers from jumping to competitors. Both sides in the debate, which bridges party lines, say they are trying to create an environment in which local businesses can thrive.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Most non-competes are ludicrous, and so one-sided as to be completely inequitable. Twenty years ago, when I had a real job, before I got smart and worked for myself, they tried to get us to sign a non-compete, despite the fact that the key people were already in the field before working there. I introduced mine to the ash can. The list of people they would have prevented us from talking to included people I introduced THEM to. If you think you can stop me from talking to someone I introduced to you, you can bite me.
A non-competition agreement is just that ... an areement. Don’t like it, don’t sign it.
I didn’t. I also threw it in the trash.
I live in Idaho now. My employment agreement (signed 25 years ago in San Diego, CA) stands. It's an "at will" agreement. I identified "work in progress" outside the company that was clearly excluded from any interest on the part of the company. My company has a presence in every state and 15 countries. I'm not really worried about non-compete agreements.
The only thing I watch carefully is to avoid actually competing with my current employer or engaging in activity that would be adverse to my employer or employment. I have a great contract right now that could easily be the last one I need to worry about until I'm interested in retirement.
It is a term for employment at tech. companies. Don’t sign, don’t work.
One ring dingy...
Did the yogurt guy make this happen???
I’ve been a software engineer in one form or another for 31 years, first in development, then QA, now I’m back to development. I used to work in the energy sector in automation. Of course I had to sign that. That company was mired in old technology. Now I work for an internet based company using the latest greatest tech and we just had our best month in the history of the company. Take your agreement and shove it!
I signed one once. Said I couldn’t program application code for two years, within 50 miles. Fine, I was hired as a DBA for my first two years at a competing firm, then went back to distributed, then web programming. Twenty years ago now.
Congrats on the work and month.
There I fixed it for you.
Non-compete contracts are s form of indentured servitude. On their face they are ludicrous. You can not prevent someone form bettering themselves or changing jobs simply because you are too cheap or stupid to keep up with the competition in wages and benefits.
The are wholly different from nondisclosure contracts which in most states are iron clad.
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