Personally, I waited a long time for the non-compete agreement to take effect, only to have it overturned by a Texas court.

Are they fair?

I have no idea where my “fairness” gene comes from. When I see something that I think is unfair, it drives me crazy. I suppose fairness is a matter of the beholder, but it is one of the core pillars of my personality. The same goes for bullying. As a child who felt a little pushed around, I can’t stand by and watch something like that happen.

The principle

Although I have been perfectly happy with my employers over the years (mostly the same company with multiple owners), the idea of ​​being locked into a no-compete contract really bothers me. I don’t want to leave, I’m just frustrated that I can’t. I firmly believe that workers should try to make a better life by selling themselves to the highest bidder.

Relief

There finally seemed to be some relief when the Federal Trade Commission decided to ban non-compete agreements. That ban was challenged in court by a Dallas accounting firm and has now been put on hold. In short, a Texas judge ruled that the ban was an overreach of the FTC’s authority (the decision is a bit more detailed, but you get what I mean).

Why they exist

I understand that companies want to protect their “trade secrets,” but banning someone from practicing their favorite profession is a bit much. Think about the company that filed the lawsuit; they’re basically saying, “If we hire you as a counting machine, you’re not allowed to count for anyone else for a certain amount of time.” That’s ridiculous.

What about workers’ rights?

For us workers, this means we cannot pursue other opportunities or even use those opportunities to improve things at home. Of course, Texas presents itself as a “right to work” state, but no one has the means to challenge a no-compete contract in court. In the meantime, we must wait until a final decision is made on no-compete contracts in the United States.