Last week, the Federal Trade Commission revealed what it meant
when it vowed to be more than an antitrust and consumer protection
agency. It announced a proposal to regulate
virtually every labor and service relationship in the United States
and make it more lucrative for people to quit.
The new rule is predicted to boost wages and salaries for
millions of Americans at every income level, with CEOs getting some
of the largest raises. According to the FTC's analysis, the
rule is likely to reduce on-the-job training, shorten job tenure,
and generate more resignations. It might also spur litigation if
employees spill trade secrets in their new posts.
In measures both simple and sweeping, the rule would ban certain
terms of service and regulate others. Categorically banned would be
non-compete clauses (or NCCs) in agreements between companies and
workers or contractors. Any agreement that prevents a person from
quitting a job and working for a competitor or starting a
