NEW YORK, NY — September 19, 2025 — With the Federal Trade Commission quietly backing off its ban on noncompete agreements, a leading employment law expert is urging job seekers to scrutinize employment contracts before signing.
Steven Mitchell Sack, nationally recognized employment attorney and author known as “The Employee’s Lawyer®,” says the FTC’s decision leaves millions of workers vulnerable to restrictive clauses that could limit their future job opportunities.
“The FTC walking away from defending its own rule means noncompete agreements are back — and enforceable — in many states,” Sack says. “If you’re taking a new job, you might also be agreeing not to work for a competitor after you leave, even if you’re laid off.”
Sack warns that noncompetes could have a chilling effect on workers in a softening job market.
“Fewer businesses are hiring, and these post-employment restrictions add unnecessary obstacles for job seekers,” he adds. “Before signing, talk to an employment law attorney — depending on your state, the clause may not be enforceable.”
The FTC’s original ban on noncompetes was hailed as a win for workers under the Biden administration. But as of this month, the agency has dropped its legal defense of the rule, effectively nullifying it.
Sack is available for interviews on:
- What job seekers need to know before signing employment contracts
- Which states enforce noncompete clauses — and which don’t
- How to negotiate or challenge restrictive covenants
