> It seems like the free market ideal would be to allow them and if people didn't like them they wouldn't sign them. No one telling anyone what to do. I’ve gr

> It seems like the free market ideal would be to allow them and if people didn't like them they wouldn't sign them. No one telling anyone what to do. I’ve grown to learn that arguments on labour markets and free market ideals tend to be very simplistic and, knowingly or not, always boil down to victim blaming. When we’ve unemployed and actively looking for a job, if we have bills to pay and our budget is tight, our goal is to get a source of income as soon as possible. Consequently, we are vulnerable for unscrupulous conditions, such as non-competes. This does not mean that the job market finds them acceptable or encourages them. It just means employees that push these abusive conditions upon their new hires are abusing their dominant position to exploit workers, specially those in vulnerable positions.