Non-Competes Ban is Yet Another Sign of FTC Mission Creep

In recent years, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has been on a mission to regulate and monitor a wide range of industries and companies, from tech giants to small businesses. Now, the FTC is taking aim at non-compete agreements, which have long been used to protect businesses from competition. The FTC has proposed a ban on non-competes, arguing that they stifle competition, hurt workers, and reduce innovation.

Non-competes are contractual agreements between employers and employees that prohibit the employee from working for a competitor or starting their own business in the same industry. These agreements are typically used by employers to protect trade secrets and other confidential information, and to prevent employees from taking their knowledge and expertise to a competitor.

The FTC believes that non-competes are bad for competition and can hurt workers. The commission argues that non-competes can limit workers’ earning potential by preventing them from taking higher-paying jobs with competitors, and can also limit their ability to start their own businesses. The commission also believes that non-competes can stifle innovation by preventing new businesses from entering the market.

The FTC’s proposed ban on non-competes is yet another example of its mission creep. The commission has already taken on tech giants like Google and Facebook, and has proposed regulations on a wide range of industries, from drugmakers to airlines. The commission’s proposed ban on non-competes could have far-reaching implications for businesses of all sizes, and could potentially limit their ability to protect their intellectual property and confidential information.

It remains to be seen whether the FTC’s proposed ban on non-competes will become a reality. Businesses have expressed concerns that the ban could limit their ability to protect their confidential information, and labor groups have expressed concerns that the ban could limit workers’ earning potential. The FTC’s mission creep could have far-reaching implications for businesses and workers alike, and it will be interesting to see how this issue plays out.