On January 9, 2020, the FTC held a workshop entitled “Non-Competes in the Workplace: Examining Antitrust and Consumer Protection Issues.” This workshop is part of a growing interest in addressing the competitive impacts of non-compete clauses in employment agreements, which have become fairly common in the marketplace but largely remain governed by a patchwork of inconsistent state laws.  Despite the recent uptick in attention, the prospects for FTC action in the area remain murky and ambiguous, with an FTC rulemaking unlikely given the current lineup of Commissioners.  State-by-state approaches will most likely continue to prevail.


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