Active Investigation

Washington Workers: Did You Sign a Non-Compete Agreement That Limited Your Employment Opportunities?

About This Investigation

Outten & Golden is conducting an investigation to better understand whether workers in Washington were unlawfully restricted by their employer to work elsewhere or pursue new employment opportunities.

Washington law provides protections for many workers and may limit an employer’s ability to prevent employees from working for competitors, taking second jobs, or pursuing other employment opportunities. These protections can be especially important for workers in retail, restaurant, hospitality, and similar industries who may rely on multiple jobs or flexible employment opportunities.

Recent litigation has challenged employer non-compete practices affecting workers in industries such as retail and restaurants. These cases allege that broad restrictions on where employees can work violate Washington law.

We are interested in speaking with workers who:

  • Work or worked in Washington
  • Signed a non-compete agreement or similar employment restriction
  • Were prevented from working for a competitor
  • Were restricted from taking a second job
  • Earned less than $100,000

If any of these circumstances apply to you, we encourage you to contact us for a confidential conversation.

Understanding Your Rights

Many workers assume non-compete agreements are only used for executives and highly paid employees. However, employers sometimes require retail workers, restaurant employees, and other hourly workers to sign agreements that limit where they can work. These restrictions can have a significant impact on a worker’s ability to earn additional income and pursue new employment opportunities.

Depending on the circumstances, Washington law may prohibit employers from enforcing certain non-compete restrictions against workers. These restrictions may:

  • Limit your ability to take a second job
  • Prevent you from working for another employer in the same industry
  • Restrict employment opportunities after leaving a job

If you believe a non-compete agreement limited your ability to pursue other employment opportunities, you may have important rights under Washington law.

Why Outten & Golden

For more than three decades, Outten & Golden has been one of the country's most respected advocates for employees — from front-line workers to C-suite executives — in matters against the nation's largest and most powerful employers.

$1.3B
Recovered for employees
500+
Class action cases prosecuted, many against major tech companies
$320M
Secured for victims of pay discrimination
140
Attorneys and professionals, united by one mission
Our offices
New York
685 Third Avenue, 25th Floor
New York, NY 10017
Washington, D.C.
1225 New York Ave NW, Suite 1200B
Washington, DC 20005
Oakland
1999 Harrison Street, Suite 1500
Oakland, CA 94612