Papa John’s No Poaching Agreement Gets Nixed in Washington State

Eight more fast food chains have given up their anti-poaching clauses, and now lawyers are looking for employees possibly affected by Papa John’s no poaching agreement.

Workers in Washington have experienced a win. Thanks to efforts by Attorney General Bob Ferguson to crack down on companies using no poaching agreements, eight more companies have joined the ranks of those fast food chains getting rid of no poaching agreements in their contracts.

In the fast food industry, when companies enter into no poaching agreements, franchises agree not to hire employees who previously worked at other franchises in the same company. This is good for the company, because it means that they don’t have to provide competitive wages or good benefits to keep employees, but these agreements harm employees for the same reasons.

Experts say that no poaching agreements may be part of the reason why wages in the fast food industry are notoriously low. They also say that no poaching agreements hinder competition in a free market and prevent employees from advancing in their careers, seeking better pay, and getting benefits. Princeton economists conducted a study on no poaching agreements and discovered that these agreements decreased opportunities in particular for low-wage workers working in states with little economic growth.

Happily, states are fighting back against these agreements. In Washington, the Attorney General’s office launched an investigation earlier this year to discover how no poaching agreements were hurting the state’s economy. The investigation also delved into practices of specific companies, an effort that resulted in numerous chains agreeing to remove no poaching agreements from their contracts.

Most recently, Burger King, Denny’s, Papa John’s, Pizza Hut, Popeyes, Tim Hortons, A&W, and Wingstop have agreed to stop using no poaching agreements around the country.

According to Ferguson, “no-poach provisions create a rigged system where business no longer have to compete for workers, putting downward pressure on wages nationwide. That’s wrong and illegal.”

Papa John’s No Poaching Agreement Lawsuit Investigation

Now, lawyers are looking for workers who were possibly harmed by a Papa John’s no poaching agreement. If you work or worked for Papa Johns, you may have a legal claim. If you do have a legal claim, participating in a Papa John’s no poaching agreement lawsuit could help you and other workers stand up to big companies, and help workers get the wages and working conditions they deserve. Additionally, you could receive compensation for injury you suffered as the result of a Papa John’s no poaching agreement.

You may have been harmed by a no poaching agreements and not even know it. Most employers do not tell employees that they engage in no-poaching agreements. You may have been denied fair wages or advancement opportunity because your employer did not have to provide them to prevent you and other employees from leaving to find better work. Contacting an experienced lawyer can help you determine if you may have a legal claim in a Papa John’s no poaching lawsuit investigation.

Join a Free Fast Food Employee Poaching Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you work for McDonald’s, Jimmy John’s, Pizza Hut, Little Caesars, Papa John’s, Domino’s, Burger King or Arby’s and were prevented from moving to a different franchise that is part of the same company, you may have been the victim of a no-poach agreement. If so, you may qualify to participate in this employee poaching class action lawsuit investigation.

Learn More