Non-competes could be nixed in Oregon

Oregon Senate Bill 248 would largely end the practice of non-compete agreements in employment contracts across the state. The measure passed the full house and senate – even after an attempt by broadcasting companies to exempt their employees from the proposed law. That attempt was blocked in large part by the efforts of Sen. Rick Metsger, a former broadcaster himself. “Management has required non-competes for even low level radio announcers
and that is unacceptable. To say to someone ‘we don’t want you to work for us anymore and we don’t want you to work for anyone else either’ is totally wrong”, Metsger said in a prepared statement. If an employer still feels they need to have a non-compete agreement — they can, but must pay the employee a minimum 50% of their salary for up to two years after termination. The bill is now on Oregon Governor’s Ted Kulongoski’s desk for final consideration.