Pivateau, law professors comment on FTC proposal banning noncompete agreements
Friday, April 21, 2023
Media Contact: Terry Tush | Director, Marketing and Communications | 405-744-2703 | terry.tush@okstate.edu
Griffin Pivateau, associate professor of legal studies in the Spears School of Business, joined several law professors from across the country to comment on a rule proposed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to ban noncompete agreements.
Noncompete agreements are clauses in employment contracts that restrict employees from working for a competitor or starting their own business for a specific length of time after leaving their job. The FTC proposal argues that noncompete agreements harm workers by limiting their job mobility and earning potential, and they also harm competition by stifling innovation and new business growth.
Pivateau and his colleagues argue that the FTC’s proposal is a “long overdue” step to protect workers and promote competition. They also note that the proposal is consistent with the views of a growing number of states, which have already enacted laws to restrict or ban noncompete agreements.
“I am proud to join my colleagues in supporting the FTC’s proposal to ban noncompete agreements. These agreements are harmful to workers and to competition, and they are long overdue for reform,” said Pivateau, the Puterbaugh Professor of Legal Studies at Spears Business.
He is a nationally recognized expert on employment law and his work has been published in leading law journals. He is also a frequent speaker on employment law issues.
The FTC’s proposal is still in the early stages, and it is unclear whether it will be adopted. However, the proposal has been met with mixed reactions from businesses and workers. Some businesses argue that noncompete agreements are necessary to protect their trade secrets and confidential information, while workers argue that they are unfair and unnecessary.
The FTC’s proposal is a significant development in the debate over noncompete agreements. If the proposal is adopted, it would have a major impact on the American workforce. It's too early to say what the ultimate outcome of the proposal will be, but it is a topic that is worth watching closely.