In Washington state, is Bojangles permitted to restrict a developer from soliciting or hiring employees of a Bojangles franchisee?
Bojangles Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- 8. RCW 49.62.060 prohibits Franchisor from restricting, restraining, or prohibiting Developer from (i) soliciting or hiring any employee of a franchisee of Franchisor or (ii) soliciting or hiring any employee of Franchisor. As a result, any such provisions contained in the Development Agreement or elsewhere are void and unenforceable in Washington.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD page 82)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Bojangles's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, if you are developing a Bojangles franchise in Washington state, Bojangles is prohibited from restricting you from soliciting or hiring any employee of a Bojangles franchisee.
Specifically, the FDD states that any provisions in the Development Agreement that conflict with this limitation are void and unenforceable in Washington. This protection is provided under Washington state law RCW 49.62.060.
This means that as a Bojangles developer in Washington, you have the freedom to recruit and hire employees from existing Bojangles franchisees without facing legal repercussions from Bojangles itself. This can be a significant advantage in securing experienced staff familiar with the Bojangles system.