In this case it's very specific to trade secrets. It's not really cult-like to ask people not to talk specifics about your manufacturing processes, suppliers, o

In this case it's very specific to trade secrets. It's not really cult-like to ask people not to talk specifics about your manufacturing processes, suppliers, or customers. That's also not usually within the purview of a non-compete. Non-competes generally dictate whether you can start selling competing products with a competitor or develop the same kind of software for sale with a competitor. They generally don't prohibit finding jobs in unrelated industries. The morally reprehensible thing about a non-compete for a barista or janitor is that the knowledge of how to make coffee or clean is widely available and unless WeWork has some kind of proprietary technique for cleaning offices the non-compete is really a form of indentured servitude. And assuming there's no particular consideration given to what would happen to the janitor or barista should they lose their job and not be able to find similar work it's the kind of contract that should be illegal. It also makes me glad that I asked my employer to hold off on leasing an office for me from WeWork as I don't like doing business with companies that are that predatory. But there's nothing particularly cult-like about it.