On Wednesday, the Massachusetts Senate passed an Economic Development bill that revives the long-debated issue of non-compete legislation in the Commonwealth.
As this blog reported earlier this year, the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development submitted a new bill, H.B. 4419, addressing non-competes in place of six bills filed last year. The non-compete language contained in the Senate’s Economic Development bill tracks that of H.B. 4419, including a key provision mandating “garden leave” payments or “other mutually-agreed upon consideration” to an employee during the restricted period following the termination of the employment relationship; a provision requiring advance notice of the non-compete to employees; a provision requiring additional consideration for a non-compete entered into after the commencement of employment; and a provision codifying existing law permitting courts to reform overbroad non-competes.
The Massachusetts House of Representatives’ Economic Development bill, passed two weeks ago, did not contain any provisions relating to non-competes. As a result, this issue will be decided by a House/Senate Conference Committee. With the end of the legislative session looming on July 31, the House and Senate have a very short window to come to a decision.
PartnerEmily Grannon Fox is a partner in Nutter’s Litigation Department and a member of the firm’s Labor, Employment and Benefits practice group. Clients frequently turn to Emily for representation in complex civil litigation ...
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