I’ve been frustrated at my job for some time now, and the job hunt has run dry. As an alternative, I started thinking about the possibility of doing freelance work on the side that’s similar to the full-time work I do.
I took a look a the employee agreement I signed day one, and I noticed it had a non-compete clause that would prevent me from freelancing. My first thought was, “well, fuck.” But then, my wife encouraged me to look further into the legality of this agreement. Turns out, in my state (CA), non-compete agreements are illegal and non-enforceable!
If anyone in the US is considering picking up a side hustle or going into business for themselves but feel tied down to a BS non-compete, I encourage you to check your state’s laws first. There’s a good chance your employer is trying to take advantage of you!
Source: CA Attorney General Rob Bonta