Florida Will Soon Be Friendliest State in Country For Enforcing Non-Compete Agreements: 3 Key Steps for Employers

Summary

Florida has long been where people go to unwind—and soon it will also be a place where businesses can operate with more peace of mind, thanks to a new law that will make it the most enforcement-friendly state in the country for non-compete and garden leave agreements. The "Florida Contracts Honoring Opportunity, Investment, Confidentiality, and Economic Growth (CHOICE) Act," passed both the Florida House and Senate on April 24 and expected to be signed by Governor DeSantis, will reshape the state's laws on restrictive covenants starting on July 1, 2025. The Act does not amend any current statutes, but instead provides more certainty to employers looking to enforce certain non-compete agreements and agreements offering "garden leave" (a period of time where an employee is not required to perform any work but is still paid their salary and benefits in return for not accepting employment elsewhere). Here is what employers should know about the CHOICE Act and three steps you can take to ...