[adrr]

Biggest downside for Kansas and Missouri is that both states enforce non compete clauses. Working at a company, and think you can can build a better product, tough luck you can't for the duration of specified in the clause.

Also forces salaries lower, competitors can't hire you away. If you are skilled, you're better off in a state like California. Paid more money, and you aren't handcuffed to your job. Look what facebook did to Google's talent pool or Zynga did to EA's.

[msh]

You dont get any compensation for noncompetes?

I am not from the US, but where I come from noncompetes are enforced, but are very expensive (by law) for the companies so they are not used that often.

[adrr]

Nope. It doesn't require compensation. And it applies even if your are laid off, fired etc. I've seen some that extend for 2 years. Its legalized slavery which is why California outlaws them.

There's even worse things out there for employees. I've read about ownership of all ideas/work clauses including outside of work hours while employed and enforced in a court of law. Imagine doing a startup nights and weekends only having it taken from you.

[nordicnomad82]

Anything that extends for more than 6 months and isn't extremely narrow in terms of geography or activities will have a hard time standing up in court. The employer has no right to deny a person a living.

As for IP stuff, that's really a case by case basis with each companies contract and how reasonable the claim that special resources and information made available by the employer were behind the development of the ip. If you're working for Starbucks and patent an algorithm for targeted advertising than no way in hell. But if you work for Garmin and develop a method to improve GPS reception in small devices, you're probably screwed.

And most of that stuff is pretty standard across the country.

[_delirium]

Varies entirely by state, but I don't think any US states have mandatory compensation, only whatever is negotiated in the original employment contract. Some states that allow noncompetes will, however, narrow or in some cases refuse to enforce one if it's deemed to produce too great a burden on the person's ability to earn a living.