Although I understand why they are in place, it is unnecessary given the power that companies have. In sales, non-competes are vital to ensure a person doesn't take all their customers with them. Logically, that makes sense. Problem is, companies have way too much power as it is in situations where the employee just has to accept the fact that it is what it is. Well, guess what, getting rid of non-competes could mean you lose business, well...it is what it is. If you are scared someone will take business from you, treat them better, pay them more, show them you are serious about keeping them.

Now, the one thing non-competes will always be useful for are trade secrets and they need to keep something in there about that. Leaving one company and going to another and giving them information about the other company isn't fair competition. And some might say well anything private is already protected. Problem is, it's not. Anyone with an ounce of ingenuity can give up secrets without anyone knowing they are the ones who did it, or even doing it in a way that doesn't give up the secrets but gives up enough to where the secrets are easy to expose.