Employers in Oregon and across the U.S. are struggling to understand how to respond to recent conflicting decisions around noncompete clauses, which restrict workers from changing jobs in the same industry.

The PBJ spoke with Jean Back, a shareholder and employment attorney at Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt to make sense of the fast-evolving rules around noncompetes. The implications will be felt by companies large and small in a host of industries — any that “have a secret sauce or a client base they want to protect,” Back said.

First off, it’s important to note that many states have their own laws around noncompete clauses. California doesn’t allow them at all. Oregon does, but with hoops to jump through, as Back put it.

Read the full article in the Portland Business Journal.

This article was republished with permission from the Portland Business Journal.

This article summarizes aspects of the law and does not constitute legal advice. For legal advice for your situation, you should contact an attorney.