Two new class action lawsuits take aim at Amazon’s hiring practices, alleging that the tech giant violated Washington state laws governing pay transparency and non-compete agreements.
“Noncompetition covenants persist even after becoming illegal in 2020 — they’ve just gone underground,” said Timothy Emery, an attorney with Emery Reddy. “As alleged, employers like Amazon cleverly disguise illegal non-competes as ‘nonsolicitation’ clauses. Unfortunately for the lowest-paid workers, little has changed since the law was passed in 2020.”
The revamped Non-Compete Act, which went into effect on January 1, 2020, outlaws unfair non-compete agreements that target lower-wage workers by giving them a variety of new protections designed to unlock their economic potential.
It’s a major break from existing laws that have long allowed employers to prevent their workers from leaving to work for a competitor or launching a competing business. Despite these changes, some employers continue to enforce non-compete contracts that greatly limit the employment opportunities of their workforce.
In addition, the complaint includes a job posting from Amazon that lists a salary range: “The base pay for this position ranges from $66,800/year in our lowest geographic market up to $142,800/year in our highest geographic market.”
Reddy said the wide range “does little to inform workers what pay to expect.”
The complaint cites research indicating a persistent wage gap in Washington, particularly affecting women.
“In short, this wage range does nothing to advance wage transparency, and little to overcome wage inequity, which relies on transparency,” Reddy said.
When to Contact a Washigton State Non-Compete Lawyer
If you have tried to work things out with your employer and nothing has been done, then it’s time to consult with an experienced Washington State Non-compete Agreement attorney. Employment and Labor Law is complicated and can be overwhelming for anyone not familiar with it. Trying to hold a company accountable for bad business practices requires a skilled attorney to navigate the different laws and tactics an employer may use. Call for a Free Case Review to speak to an experienced Intake Specialist and learn more about your rights. No fee unless we recover for you.
