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Amazon Requires Non-Compete Agreements.. For Warehouse Workers

Posted by Soulskill on from the you-may-not-lift-and-carry-objects-for-anyone-else dept.

Rick Zeman writes: Amazon, perhaps historically only second to Newegg in the IT nerdling's online shopping heart, has not only subjected their warehouse employees to appalling working conditions, but they're also making them sign a non-compete agreement for the privilege. Here's an excerpt from the agreement: "During employment and for 18 months after the Separation Date, Employee will not, directly or indirectly, whether on Employee's own behalf or on behalf of any other entity (for example, as an employee, agent, partner, or consultant), engage in or support the development, manufacture, marketing, or sale of any product or service that competes or is intended to compete with any product or service sold, offered, or otherwise provided by Amazon (or intended to be sold, offered, or otherwise provided by Amazon in the future)."

7 of 331 comments (clear)

  1. Good Luck by OverlordQ · · Score: 5, Informative

    That's a pretty broad exclusion to be enforceable.

    --
    Your hair look like poop, Bob! - Wanker.
    1. Re:Good Luck by bondsbw · · Score: 5, Funny

      Non-compete agreements should work both ways. If I can't work for a competitor, then you can't replace me with another employee.

      --
      All my liberal friends think I'm a conservative, all my conservative friends think I'm a liberal.
    2. Re:Good Luck by Applehu+Akbar · · Score: 5, Funny

      But every Amazon warehouse employee will get am Amazon gift certificate for $25.

    3. Re:Good Luck by Registered+Coward+v2 · · Score: 5, Informative

      Signed contracts are deemed unenforceable all the time. It's called an illegal agreement and there is hundreds of years of common law precedent around it. You're an idiot.

      Exactly. When I left a job I had my lawyer review the non-compete. His response: "Ignore it. It's unenforceable and the chances of them trying to stop you in court are nil." He said that the law is constantly changing and what is enforceable today may not be tomorrow, and unless you are senior enough or worked on a very sensitive area it's not worth the trouble to sue you; and if you were in those situations you should have a very specific non-compete, with compensation for the time you can't compete to ensure it is enforceable. The general rule is if they try to prevent you from working in an area where you have experience it will be unenforceable unless they pay you to not compete and even then it has to be for a reasonable period. Of course, IANAL and YMMV depending on jurisdiction. HAND

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      I'm a consultant - I convert gibberish into cash-flow.
    4. Re:Good Luck by bbn · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Here we have a very effective law that put a complete stop to the non-compete bullshit: any company that wants a non-compete contract will have to pay half salary for the entire period where said non-compete contract is valid.

      So if you stop working somewhere, they have to keep paying you half salary, if they really think that non-compete contract is necessary. They almost never do.

  2. Adopt the German Rules by purpledinoz · · Score: 5, Informative

    In Germany, a non-compete clause is only enforceable if compensated, since that goes against the the constitutional right to work where you want. The company has to pay at least 50% of your salary during the non-compete period. That means even if you did sign a non-compete, it's not valid unless the old company is compensating you. Effectively, this forces companies to balance the need for a non-compete with the cost. Effectively, this means only high up people have the clauses in it.

  3. Re:That's a really good riddle by greg1104 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Can anyone identify a product or service that Amazon doesn't sell or provide?

    Union representation.