What You Need To Know About the Washington State Non Compete Law
You can also fill out this form to begin our intake process for potential non-compete agreement violations. Once filled out, please email with any supporting documents to kendra@emeryreddy.com.
What Is A Non-Compete Agreement?
A non-compete agreement is a contract that allows employers to prevent employees who sign the agreement from getting a similar job with a company that competes with their current employer. In other words, employees are restricted from using the job skills they have acquired to seek employment in the same market. The agreements are particularly restrictive to lower-wage workers who don’t have the luxury to move to a new market or acquire new skills with each job change.
What Does Washington State’s 2020 Non-Compete Law Entail?
Are Any Washington State Non-Competes Still Enforceable?
Yes, but only for an employee or independent contractor whose annual income exceeds the current year’s earnings thresholds of $101,390 and $253,475, respectively. As a result, most highly paid tech workers at companies like Amazon and Microsoft are not protected by the new law. That’s because non-compete agreements make more sense when a departing employee or contractor might join a competing company in exchange for unique trade secrets or other important proprietary information. Some lawmakers said Amazon lobbyists played a role in reducing the law’s originally envisioned salary threshold from $180,000 to $100,000.
Is Washington’s 2020 Non-Compete Law Retroactive?
Yes, but there are a few caveats. While the law invalidates all non-compete agreements signed before January 1, 2020, aggrieved workers will not be able to sue their employer and collect the $5,000 penalty or damages for a pre-2020 non-compete unless the employer is actively enforcing the agreement. If an employer has its workers or contractors sign a non-compete after January 1, 2020, that violates the new law, you can sue and collect financial compensation regardless of whether it’s being enforced.
If you signed a non-compete after January 1, 2020, or have a non-compete agreement that needs to be revoked, revised, or reviewed by a professional, call Emery | Reddy today to speak with an experienced Intake Specialist for a Free Case Review and to learn more about how we may be able to help you with your claim.
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As a Washington State employee, you are entitled to several protections and benefits under state and federal laws.
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Meet The Team
The Seattle non-compete attorneys at Emery | Reddy, PLLC are passionate about helping workers with employment law issues and L&I claims. We Help Workers®: it’s our motto and what drives us every day.
We know how companies think, and we understand the tactics they use. Our employment law attorneys use that knowledge coupled with over two decades of experience to help our clients get access to the L&I benefits to which they are legally entitled and hold employers accountable when they break the law.
If you’re struggling with an employment law issue, injury, or L&I claim, please call us and see how Emery | Reddy can help you today.