Contractors who care about protecting proprietary company information and attracting and retaining high-quality employees (all contractors) should consider making noncompete agreements a part of their normal business practices. A recent failed attempt by the federal government to completely ban noncompetes reignited the contentious debate about the balance between freedom of contract versus freedom to work, and states have now put the issue at the forefront of their legislative agendas. Changes are coming, and contractors and their employees alike should know what lies ahead and understand how to navigate the changes.

Implications of Noncompetes in Construction
Noncompetes or noncompetition agreements affect nearly one in five working adults in the United States. A noncompete agreement is just what it sounds like - it’s an agreement between an employer and their employee where the employee agrees not to compete with their employer once their employment ends. In essence, the agreement restricts the employee from immediately joining a competing business or starting a competing business after leaving their employer.