By Maxwell Goss

Employee non-compete agreements have faced mounting scrutiny in recent years. Proponents say non-competes are indispensable for protecting trade secrets and other business interests. Critics say they hurt employee mobility and wage growth.

Now the federal government has stepped into the fray. On Jan. 5, the Federal Trade Commission proposed a new rule that would ban employee non-competes outright. A nationwide ban could take effect as early as September. Employers that rely on non-compete agreements should get ready now.