Non-Compete clauses for sandwich makers

[RavenSky]

Ok Loren, let's pretend...

A thirty-something unemployed father takes a job at this sandwich shop because it is the first/only job offer and he doesn't want to be a leech on society (on unemployment). After working there for a couple of years, another sandwich shop offers him higher than minimum wage and the opportunity to move into management.

Clearly he is worth more to someone than minimum wage, but an asinine non-compete clause means he can't accept the better paying job with more future.

How is that possibly "free-market"? how is a "non-compete" clause is compatible with a "free-market"?

 

[Ford]

I'm saying that raising the minimum wage has both benefits and harm.

Whenever there is talk of raising the minimum wage, free marketeers preach doom and gloom about all the harm it will cause.

Whenever the minimum wage is actually raised, the predicted harm fails to materialize.


Now with that out of the way, let's get back to this completely asinine non-compete clause.


I have some experience with non-competes, having signed a few in my radio career. It made sense that my employers would want to keep me from taking not just my talents, but my name and my ratings over to the competition. When I was on the air, I was a product that my employers spent money and time branding, promoting, and marketing. (well not a lot of money, but still...)


I also have some experience making sandwiches, having worked in a sub shop while I was waiting for my radio career to take off. There isn't much in the sandwich industry that would justify a non-compete in my humble opinion, because the worker is not the product. I can (or I could at the time) show just about anyone how to assemble a tasty steak and onion sub. Ours were far more involved than the assembly line sandwiches at Jimmy John's, but it wasn't rocket science, either.

Protecting trade secrets? Give me a break. The people working behind the counter at Jimmy John's aren't using a secret formula. They're doing the same thing that people at Subway, Blimpie, Quiznos, Jersey Mike's, and any other number of sandwich chains are doing....putting meat, cheese, and veggies on bread.


But there is a solution to this problem which I think is very simple and very fair, because I've had it as part of my deals in the past. You want me to sign a six month non-compete? No problem. You just have to pay me to sit out that contract.


I'm gonna take a wild guess here and say no Jimmy John's outlet is going to pay a worker six months worth of wages to keep them from going to work at Subway, but that's how it should be.

 

[ksen]

I know about inflation, Loren. Oh, I think I am looking at the harm alright...the harm of an unfair system. In order for fairness to prevail, there needs to be regulation to control inflation. It can be controlled with proper regulation. Redistribution requires that the owners of these operations make less profit...or it ISN'T REDISTRIBUTION. Our government went on vacation when Reagan got elected and has been out to lunch ever since.

Thus proving you aren't actually looking at the harm since you're making up a red herring.

You mean the harm that you claim is buried in the noise whenever you are asked to produce evidence of it?