Before You Sign
Welcome
Noncompete agreements have been around for years, but they seem to be experiencing a surge in popularity. Employers love noncompete agreements because they reduce the power of the employee to bargain for higher wages. Interestingly, noncompete clauses should really be anathema to both so-called conservatives (because they interfere with competition) and so-called liberals (because they diminish the rights of workers), but they seem to have taken hold throughout the developed world, and most governments appear unwilling to confront the problem in a comprehensive way.
Dear Reader,
Noncompete agreements have been around for years, but they seem to be experiencing a surge in popularity. Employers love noncompete agreements because they reduce the power of the employee to bargain for higher wages. Interestingly, noncompete clauses should really be anathema to both so-called conservatives (because they interfere with competition) and so-called liberals (because they diminish the rights of workers), but they seem to have taken hold throughout the developed world, and most governments appear unwilling to confront the problem in a comprehensive way.
To be fair, noncompete agreements do have a purpose in this world. A company might make a huge investment in finding an upper-management exec, who is well compensated for any contract restrictions and whose departure could truly make chaos for corporate strategy. Sales staff sometimes have access to customer lists and other valuable information that the company has an interest in protecting from competitors. But the use of noncompete agreements has spread well beyond these special cases. A recent article in Bloomberg [1] quotes a 2014 study [2] that found nearly one in five workers in the US were bound by noncompete agreements, including in jobs such as camp counselors, night watchmen, and other gigs where the clause serves no constructive purpose other than to take power away.
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Alpine Linux 3.24 Features Fresh Desktops and a Newer Kernel
If you're a fan of Alpine Linux, it's time to upgrade because the latest version has been released with KDE Plasma 6.6, Gnome 50, and Linux kernel 6.18 LTS.
-
EU Open Source Strategy Plays Key Role in Tech Sovereignty Package
Comprehensive measures adopted by the European Commission aim to reduce dependency on non-EU countries.
-
Linux Foundation Report Indicates AI Driving Tech Hiring
Within growing security and skills gaps, AI has been found to be a positive driving force behind tech hiring trends in Europe.
-
United Nations Open Source Portal Goes Live
A new open source portal seeks to coordinate and scale open source efforts across the United Nations system.
-
KDE Linux Drops AUR
KDE Linux developers have dropped the Arch User Repository from the build pipeline due to security concerns; other distributions should consider doing the same.
-
California May Exempt Linux from Its Age-Verification Law
After backlash from the Linux community, California may be backing off on its promise to force all operating systems to verify age, but one platform may still have to comply.
-
Another Logic Bug Found in Linux Kernel
Qualys has discovered a vulnerability in the Linux kernel that can be used to elevate standard user privileges.
-
Ubuntu Core 26 Offers Game-Changing Enterprise Features
Ubuntu Core 26 could be a game-changer for organizations looking for increased security and reliability.
-
AI Flooding the Linux Kernel Security Mailing List
AI is giving Linus Torvalds a headache, but not in the way you might think.
-
Top Priorities for Open Source Pros Seeking a New Job
Professional fulfillment tops the list, according to LPI report.