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  1. What We Do
  2. Workplace Debt & Labor Exploitation
  3. Non-competes

Non-competes

We are fighting to free workers from employment contracts that trap them at work.

Across the economy, workers labor under employment contracts with fine print that takes away their rights to go work for a competitor, start a rival company, or just quit an unsafe job. As governments crack down on traditional non-compete agreements, employers are using other kinds of abusive contracts that have the same effect—driving workers into debt in a scheme to trap them at work.

What We’re Doing

Corporations’ history of worker exploitation using abusive employment contracts makes big businesses targets for public enforcement, private lawsuits, and congressional oversight. See below to learn more about our work to free workers from non-compete agreements and other abusive employment contracts.

Latest Work


  • Blogs
    Feb 21, 2025

    As Trump Administration Rolls Back Federal Protections, State Lawmakers Must Protect Workers From Predatory Employer-Driven Debt

    As the second Trump Administration has begun to implement its blatantly anti-worker agenda, state policymakers have an opportunity and responsibility to stand in the gap and protect workers in their states.

    More


  • Press Releases
    Aug 20, 2024

    Trump-Appointed Texas Judge Snatches Away Key Protections Against Employer-Driven Debt From Millions of Workers

    Anti-worker ruling aims to allow employers to use Training Repayment Agreement Provisions akin to modern-day indentured servitude.

    More


  • Deep Dives
    Jul 24, 2024

    Deep Dive: State Law Provides an Untapped Route to Combat TRAPs and Other Coercive Contracts

    The following SBPC Deep Dive explains how state antitrust officials can prohibit TRAPs and other stay-or-pay contracts under existing unfair methods of competition laws. Eleven states have laws that provide them with the ability to categorically prohibit non-competes and similar contracts instead of challenging their legality on a case-by-case basis.

    More


  • Deep Dives
    Jul 17, 2024

    Deep Dive: How Labor Protections Allow Cities and States to Combat Worker Traps

    The work highlighted in this Deep Dive sheds light on the ways that our higher education financing system is detrimental to Black women’s overall well-being and ability to build wealth.

    More


  • Press Releases
    Apr 24, 2024

    Advocates Condemn U.S. Chamber of Commerce-Led Lawsuit to Block Biden Administration’s Landmark Effort to Ban Non-Competes

    Lawsuits look to right-wing judges to overturn final rule, which frees millions from coercive contracts like Training Repayment Agreement Provisions (Traps) and is expected to generate more than $400 billion in increased wages.

    More


  • Press Releases
    Apr 23, 2024

    Advocates Applaud the Federal Trade Commission’s Ban on TRAPs and Stay-or-Pay Contracts that Function as Non-Competes

    The FTC’s decision to ban de facto non-competes, like stay-or-pay contracts and TRAPs, will empower millions of workers.

    More


  • Fact Sheets
    Apr 22, 2024

    Fact Sheet: FTC Final Non-Competes Rule

    April 23, 2024, the FTC issued a final rule that bans the use of traditional and de facto non-compete agreements, which includes stay-or-pay contracts. See our fact sheet on TRAPs and more.

    More


  • Letters & Memos
    Apr 2, 2024

    20 Organizations Send Letter to FTC, Calls for a Ban on TRAPs, Highlighting Their Growing Use

    20 organizations wrote the FTC to highlight new research documenting the growing use of TRAPs, and called for the FTC to ban their use in the final non-compete rule.

    More


  • Press Releases
    May 10, 2023

    First Major Healthcare Company Commits to Stop Using TRAPs to Keep Nurses From Leaving Jobs

    All Workers Must Be Safe from Abusive TRAPs and Made Whole from Past Use May 10, 2023 | WASHINGTON, D.C. — HCA Healthcare, the largest for-profit healthcare system in the United States, announced last night on NBC Nightly News they will no longer rely on Training Repayment Agreement Provisions (TRAPs) to retain their nurses. As […]

    More


  • Letters & Memos
    Apr 21, 2023

    Comments in Response to Proposed Ban on Non-Compete and De Facto Non-Compete Clauses 

    The SBPC submits a comment applauding certain proposed changes aimed at expanding access to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program and outlining additional needed changes.

    More

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