What is the timeframe within which employing former All Dogs Unleashed employees is restricted?
All_Dogs_Unleashed Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Employ or seek to employ any person who is or has been within the previous 30 days employed by Franchisor or an Affiliate of Franchisor as a salaried managerial employee, or otherwise directly or indirectly induce such person to leave his or her employment.
- 15.1.3.
Own, maintain, advise, operate, engage in, be employed by, make loans to, invest in, provide any assistance to, or have any interest in (as owner or otherwise) or relationship or association with, any Competitive Business at any location within the United States, its territories or commonwealths, or any other country, province, state or geographic area in which Franchisor or its Affiliates have used, sought registration of or registered the Marks or similar marks or operate or license others to operate a business under the Marks or similar marks.
- 15.2.
Non-Competition After Expiration or Termination of Agreement.
Commencing upon the later of: (a) expiration or termination of this Agreement (regardless of the cause for termination), or (b) a transfer permitted under Article 12 of this Agreement, and continuing for an uninterrupted period of two years thereafter, neither you nor any Owner may directly or indirectly, for yourselves, or through, on behalf of, or in conjunction with any person, persons, or legal entity:
- 15.2.1.
Divert or attempt to divert any present or prospective customer of the Franchised Business to any competitor, by direct or indirect inducement or otherwise, provide dog training, grooming, or boarding services to any customer or former customer of the Franchised Business, or do anything to harm the goodwill associated with the Marks and the System,
- 15.2.2.
Employ or seek to employ any person who is or has been within the previous 30 days employed by Franchisor or an Affiliate of Franchisor as a salaried managerial employee, or otherwise directly or indirectly induce such person to leave his or her employment.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 49–158)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 All Dogs Unleashed FDD, there are restrictions on employing certain individuals. Specifically, a franchisee is prohibited from employing or attempting to employ anyone who is or has been employed by All Dogs Unleashed or its affiliates as a salaried managerial employee within the previous 30 days. This restriction also includes indirectly inducing such a person to leave their employment.
This restriction applies while the franchisee is an owner and extends to any location within the United States, its territories, or any other country where All Dogs Unleashed or its affiliates have used, sought registration of, or registered their trademarks, or operate or license others to operate a business under similar marks. After ceasing to be an owner, this restriction continues for two years, applying to locations within the franchisee's service area or within 25 miles of its perimeter, as well as within the service area of any other All Dogs Unleashed business in existence or under development at the time the franchisee ceases to be an owner.
This non-employment restriction is common in franchising to protect the franchisor's and other franchisees' investment in training and development. The timeframe and geographic scope are designed to prevent franchisees from poaching valuable employees who possess knowledge of the All Dogs Unleashed system and confidential information. The tolling provision means that any period of noncompliance will extend the restriction period by an equivalent amount of time.