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The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) held a half-day program on January 27, 2026, focused on employee noncompetes. The FTC indicated its intent to pursue prosecution of agreements that violate antitrust or otherwise inappropriately limit employee choice. However, the commission is not reproposing the prior rule banning all noncompetes. If workers have issues, the agency suggests […]
Under the Biden administration, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) attempted to pursue a robust regulatory approach to restrict noncompete agreements. Those efforts were derailed in August 2024, however, when a federal court enjoined the FTC rule (which had tried to outlaw most noncompetes). Employers that thought noncompete agreements wouldn’t be an issue with the Trump […]
As the Trump administration focuses its priorities, employers need to be aware of several new, proposed, and potential changes to workplace laws, regulations, and federal agency enforcement initiatives. Here is a preview of some of the likely changes. Independent Contractor Classification/Joint Employer Rule After the first Trump administration, the Biden administration reverted to a more […]
A federal judge has halted implementation of the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) highly anticipated worker non-compete rule. The rule, as written, bans existing and future non-compete agreements for virtually all workers, creating a seismic shift in employers’ ability to use such restrictions across most industries. But on August 20, 2024, a Texas federal court judge […]
For 20 years, I sat in the seat that most managers feared: I was the person on the other end of the call recruiting away their best performers. It was easier than you would think, and that was even before the FTC banned non-competes from employment offers. In a survey conducted by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, […]
Last year, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a proposed rule to ban most noncompete agreements nationwide, with very limited exceptions. The sweeping rule forbids any contractual term between an employer and a worker that prevents the worker from accepting employment with a competitor or operating a competitive business after the conclusion of the worker’s […]
Earlier this year, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a proposed rule that would bar noncompete provisions in most employment agreements. Among other things, the proposed rule would not only bar noncompete provisions in employment agreements but also prohibit such provisions when a business is sold by someone holding less than a 25% ownership interest. […]
The importance of restricting internal access to personal information was the subject of a recent blog post by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC, which exercises data privacy and security enforcement authority over all for-profit companies, identified specific organizational do’s and don’ts for preventing the compromise of employee or consumer data.
Two federal agencies have announced that going forward, they intend to pursue criminal charges against individuals involved in illegal anticompetitive activity. And HR professionals “often are in the best position” to ensure compliance, the organizations said in a new guidance.
Don’t try to deny it, social media is mainstream now, says Attorney Jonathan Segal, and its influence is only going to grow. Before too long, the workplace will be 75 percent Millennials, and they use social media with a vengeance. (By the way, Boomers aren’t that far behind, he adds.) Social Media includes, for […]