California Leads States in Probing Employers’ ‘No-Poach’ Pacts

State attorneys general are investigating how employers collude to prohibit workers from switching jobs through unlawful “no-poach” agreements.

California is leading the way, with investigations in the works after some big actions against the fast food industry and Silicon Valley. “We approach this as a core economic justice issue,” said Eleanor Blume, California Department of Justice special assistant attorney general.

“This is one where we have workers’ rights and market manipulation all wrapped up in one, which makes it really important for us,” she said in an interview. “More will be coming.”

No-poach agreements are arrangements among employers not to ...