At Emery | Reddy, PC, we are committed to holding powerful employers accountable when they put profits over people. That commitment is at the heart of a class-action lawsuit filed against Amazon, where we represent Washington workers who allege the company unlawfully restricted their ability to earn a living after leaving their jobs.
As recently reported by MyNorthwest, the lawsuits challenge Amazon’s use of post-employment restrictions that appear to violate Washington’s clear and long-standing ban on most non-compete agreements.
While Amazon may be the defendant in this case, the issue is much bigger than one employer. This litigation is about enforcing Washington law and protecting workers’ fundamental right to move freely in the job market.
Washington Law Is Clear: Most Non-Competes Are Illegal
Washington lawmakers made employee mobility a priority in 2020, when they enacted one of the strongest non-compete bans in the country. Under current law:
- Non-compete agreements are void and unenforceable for workers who earn below a statutory income threshold
- The threshold is adjusted annually and is $123,394.17 for employees ($308,485.43 for independent contractors) in 2025
- Employers must disclose any non-compete terms before a worker accepts a job
Despite these protections, we continue to see employers, including some of the largest corporations in the world, push the boundaries of the law or ignore it altogether.
Non-Competes Didn’t Disappear, They Went “Underground”
As alleged in our lawsuits against Amazon, non-compete restrictions have not vanished since the law changed. Instead, they’ve been repackaged and buried inside lengthy employment documents, often disguised as:
- “Non-solicitation” clauses
- Customer or vendor restriction provisions
- Overbroad confidentiality agreements
Washington law focuses on what these clauses do, not what employers call them. If a provision effectively prevents a worker from taking a new job in their field, it may be unlawful, even if it avoids the label “non-compete.”
As our firm has consistently emphasized, illegal non-competes persist across Washington, disproportionately harming lower-paid workers who have fewer resources to challenge them.
Know Your Rights
If you are a current or former employee in Washington and have questions about a non-compete or similar restriction, keep these points in mind:
- Your income level at the time you signed matters
- Labels like “non-solicitation” do not override the law
- Employers sometimes rely on fear and confusion, not legality
- You may have legal claims even if your employer threatens enforcement
Taking these clauses at face value can unnecessarily limit your career and earning potential.
Emery | Reddy: Standing Up for Workers
At Emery | Reddy, we focus on class actions and complex employment cases that make a real difference for Washington workers. Our representation of the plaintiffs in the Amazon non-compete lawsuits reflects our broader mission: protecting workers from unlawful employment practices and pushing back when corporations overreach.
As these cases move forward, we will continue advocating aggressively for our clients and for Washington workers as a whole.
If you believe your employer may be violating Washington’s non-compete laws, or if you were pressured into signing an agreement that limits your future work, contact us today.
