Frankel hails impending Biden order targeting noncompete clauses

Move will prohibit noncompete clauses in healthcare industry

HARRISBURG, July 8 – Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny, applauded moves by President Joe Biden to protect workers from the ubiquitous use of noncompete clauses, which employers increasingly use to block employees from accepting new jobs.

As Democratic chairman of the Health Committee, Frankel has seen these unfair contracts become the industry standard within healthcare.

Frankel said the White House’s executive order, announced this week, would make it easier for healthcare workers to fill vital vacancies in the industry.

“As Pennsylvania’s legislation to rein the use of non-compete agreements to trap workers and distort the job market has gathered dust, I am relieved that President Biden used his executive power to take action,” Frankel said. “I have seen these unreasonable contracts wreak havoc on the lives of healthcare workers and their patients, and it’s long past time for the government to step in.”

In April, Frankel joined with his Republican counterpart on the Health Committee Rep. Kathy Rapp, along with GOP Rep. Torren Ecker, to call on the General Assembly in an op-ed to ban the use of restrictive covenants in the healthcare industry.