---
title: "Despite Legal Attacks Most Employers Continue Non-Competes"
description: "Despite recent legal challenges, most employers continue to use non-compete agreements. The FTC's proposed ban on non-compete agreements has been blocked, while the NLRB is considering their legality. Employers are waiting for definitive guidance on whether non-compete agreements remain enforceable."
url: "https://wimlaw.com/publications/newsletters/employers-persist-non-competes"
date: "2026-06-03T03:18:25+00:00"
language: "en-US"
---

#  Most Employers Continue Non-Competes Despite Current Legal Attacks

Written on September 05, 2024.

*Tag(s):* [NLRB (National Labor Relations Board)](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_tags&view=tag&id%5B0%5D=62:nlrb), [FTC (Federal Trade Commission)](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_tags&view=tag&id%5B0%5D=67:ftc), [September 2024 Newsletter](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_tags&view=tag&id%5B0%5D=163:september-2024-newsletter)

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) rule scheduled to go into effect on September 4, 2024, banning the most common forms of non-compete agreements, was invalidated by a federal district court ruling on August 21, 2024. Ryan, LLC v. Federal Trade Commission, No. 24-cv-00986, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas.

The ruling blocks the FTC non-compete rule from taking effect on September 4, 2024, but the FTC has indicated it still might bring specific cases without having a rule. At the same time, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) General Counsel and one administrative law judge find common non-compete provisions to be overbroad, and thus unenforceable, by limiting protected concerted and union-related activities. The NLRB in Washington, however, has not yet ruled on the issue.

> Editor's Note: Most employers are awaiting definitive opinions and guidance as non-competes may ultimately still be enforceable, and employers know if they send revocation notices on the non-competes, it will be hard to get them back.

This article is part of our September 2024 Newsletter.

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