Former WBKO morning anchor Laura Rogers is taking her former employer to court over a non-compete clause in her contract so she can start working again.
Rogers, who worked on AM Kentucky and Midday Live for the Bowling Green, Ky. ABC affiliate from 2014 through the end of 2021, saw her plans to leave the station for the local Spectrum News outlet blocked over the clause. But Rogers said her contract isn’t valid.
“I was an at-will employee and shouldn’t be held to the terms of an expired contract,” she said. “I should be able to use the skill set that I’ve developed over the years.”
Rogers and her attorney filed suit in district court saying she is no longer bound by the non-compete because her contract expired in 2018.
“The initial two-year contract started in 2014 and was renewed for two more years in 2016,” Rogers’ lawyer told the Bowling Green Daily News. “Had her employment ended during the period from 2014 to 2018, they would have had a valid non-compete. She (Rogers) has just been an at-will employee since the contract expired.
The BG Daily News said Gray responded by saying “As a policy, Gray does not comment on personnel matters or outstanding legal items.”
But Rogers isn’t being so shy, saying she feels the move to prevent her from moving on was “very vindictive.”
“It was an insulting way to handle it,” said Rogers. “I don’t think I deserved to be treated this way.”