Had non-competes on me for most of my career. It was the only thing that kept me from going to work for the biggest competitor when an employer would scr*w me on the way out the door. They were used big time against salespeople, and used to get away with avoiding paying commissions on made sales without having to worry that I would go to a competitor and pull the sale over. I lost over $1M in commissions over my career to shady business owners and the non-competes kept me from being able to do anything about it.
Yep. Same story with my situation. Can’t wait until July.
Broadcasting has had noncompetes for decades. You work for a radio station, you get let go for whatever reason, be it personal, format change, argument with management, or whatever, and you can’t work in the market you live in for “X” period of time. So many folks I personally know had to sell homes and move because they couldn’t wait a year to earn a paycheck.
Noncompetes in my industry also hurt sellers. Sales is all about relationship building with clients, and one day you’re let go or the competition offers you far better commission rates and you cant work in broadcast sales for “X” months / years. At least sellers can sell in a different industry.
So I’m thrilled that noncompetes are going away. The best talent will be free to market their talents to those who are willing to pay the most for it. And those sick of lousy operators can go across the street and not have to sell their homes or burn through savings for a year.
I had a particularly despotic radio owner approach me with a noncompete two years after I started working for him. I refused to sign it. He huffed and puffed and threatened, but I had a very nighly rated morning show and he couldn’t let me go, lest he flush his moneymaker. And when his overall attitude went from worse to insufferable, I was free to take my talents across town and he couldn’t do a thing to stop me. And my new paycheck was FAT!!