{"id":74696,"date":"2016-10-31T03:52:20","date_gmt":"2016-10-31T07:52:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/?p=74696"},"modified":"2016-10-29T20:56:51","modified_gmt":"2016-10-30T00:56:51","slug":"schneiderman-proposes-bill-to-curb-widespread-misuse-of-non-compete-agreements","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/?p=74696","title":{"rendered":"Schneiderman proposes bill to curb widespread misuse of non-compete agreements"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Attorny_General_Eric_T_Schneiderman\"<\/a>Answering White House\u2019s Call For States To Reform Laws On Non-Competes, A.G. To Introduce Bill That Bans The Harmful Pacts For Low-Wage Workers, Requires Higher Compensation For Workers Who Sign Agreements, And Establishes Right To Damages For Unlawful Non-Competes\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

A.G.\u2019s Proposal Builds On Groundbreaking Settlements With Jimmy John\u2019s, Law360 To End Non-Compete Agreements<\/em><\/p>\n

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced Tuesday that he will introduce legislation in Albany next year to curb the rampant misuse of non-compete agreements, which depress wages and limit economic mobility by banning workers from employment at a competitor for a mandated period after leaving a job.<\/p>\n

Attorney General Schneiderman\u2019s announcement follows a Call to Action on Non-Compete Agreements issued Tuesday by the White House as part of the President\u2019s initiative to increase economic competition. While growing numbers of states have moved to curtail the misuse of non-competes in recent years, A.G. Schneiderman\u2019s bill marks the most comprehensive proposal yet to protect workers from these harmful constraints. The proposal includes a ban on all non-competes for low-wage workers; a requirement that employers offer extra compensation to employees who sign non-competes; and a first-of-its-kind provision granting employees the right to seek liquidated damages when subjected to unlawful non-competes.<\/p>\n

\u201cWorkers should be able to get a new job and improve their lives without being afraid of being sued by their current or former employer,\u201d said Attorney General Schneiderman. \u201cMy proposed bill will protect workers\u2019 rights to seek new and better opportunities, particularly low-wage workers who have been locked into minimum wage jobs due to non-competes. It will also ensure that businesses can hire the best worker for the job.\u201d<\/p>\n

A.G. Schneiderman\u2019s proposal builds on a string of settlements earlier this year that banned non-competes at companies including the fast-food chain Jimmy John\u2019s<\/a>, the legal news site Law360<\/a>, and the medical services company EMSI<\/a>. Additional investigations by the A.G\u2019s office are ongoing.<\/p>\n

A.G. Schneiderman\u2019s proposed bill:<\/p>\n