A non-compete agreement is a contractual provision restricting a former employee from working for competitors for a defined period within a defined geographic scope. Sometimes standalone, sometimes part of an employment agreement or restrictive covenants, it typically runs 6-24 months and covers specific cities, states, or worldwide. Employers use non-competes to protect against employees taking competitive knowledge and customer relationships to competitors. Enforceability varies dramatically by jurisdiction (unenforceable in California, North Dakota, Oklahoma; varying in other states; federal rule changes in 2024-2025 affected enforceability for many workers). It is one of the most-litigated and most-jurisdiction-dep...