Even janitors have noncompetes now
Ive seen a few articles like this on HN.  Im a shop mechanic for a small chain of auto/truck repair stores in the midwest, and it got me thinking about the fine-print I signed when I hired on. Mostly taxes and sexual harassment stuff, but reading the details over a cup of coffee this morning It seems I did sign a non-compete.Worse yet, I asked my boss about the non-compete and she just shrugged and said she didnt know what it was for, but that HR must have put it there.  I wandered over to HR and they confessed they did not know when this was added either but it must have been something the owner wanted.The owner and I have shared a few beers together, so I tapped on his door to ask about it.  After calming him down and reassuring him he wasnt about to lose me, he admitted the "non compete" was something his attorneys told him to add.  They mentioned Google and Uber as examples.  After a few confused questions, he agreed to call a meeting with the managers and his attorneys and figure out if we really do need a non-compete, or if the lawyers are just making work.