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Employment Law—The Elusive Enforceability Of Employment Covenants Not To Compete In Arkansas, Victoria J. Malony

University of Arkansas at Little Rock Law Review

Generally speaking, a covenant not to compete , or noncompete agreement, is a promise in an employment contract not to engage in the same type of business for a stated time in the same market as the employer. When these agreements are found by courts to be unenforceable, it leaves employers vulnerable to competitors. On the other hand, when they are enforced, employees may be unable to find work in the industry in which they are most experienced.

Because of the conflicts inherent in covenants not to compete, many courts have struggled to create a rule that can be fairly …