Noncompete clauses have long been standard in corporations and in technological fields, preventing outgoing employees from taking jobs with competing firms. But in recent years the practice is increasingly found in fields all across the spectrum, from hairdressing to pest control. In Massachusetts, Governor Deval Patrick has introduced legislation that would ban noncompete clauses in most instances, with proponents claiming the practice stunts innovation. Many businesses, however, cite noncompete clauses as vital to companies' interest in remaining competitive and preventing employees from taking vital information such as customer lists or trade secrets to other firms.
See "Noncompete Clauses Increasingly Pop Up in Array of Jobs", Steven Greenhouse, The New York Times, June 8, 2014