Until recently, Jimmy John’s required new hires to sign non-compete agreements that prohibited former employees from working, for a period of 2 years following the end of their employment, at a new company within a 2-mile radius of a Jimmy John’s restaurant that made more than 10 percent of its revenue from sandwiches. Jimmy John’s recently reached a $100K settlement with the Illinois attorney general’s office and a similar agreement with the state of New York to discontinue the practice and void previously executed non-compete agreements. A growing number of legal actions disfavor non-compete agreements and even outlaw some language that had historically been acceptable. For example, a new Illinois law that took effect January 1, 2017, prevents employers from using non-compete agreements with employees who earn less than $13 per hour. In light of non-compete agreements’ negative outlook, consider the following tips before crafting your next agreement:
With the ever-changing legal landscape, contact Employco for more details and guidance on recommended employee documents and company policies. |