In Washington state, is Bonchon permitted to restrict a franchisee from soliciting or hiring any employee of another Bonchon franchisee?
Bonchon Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
RCW 49.62.060 prohibits a franchisor from restricting, restraining, or prohibiting a franchisee from (i) soliciting or hiring any employee of a franchisee of the same franchisor or (ii) soliciting or hiring any employee of the franchisor.
As a result, any such provisions contained in the franchise agreement or elsewhere are void and unenforceable in Washington.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 92–536)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Bonchon's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, if you operate a franchise in Washington state, Bonchon is not allowed to restrict you from soliciting or hiring employees from other Bonchon franchisees.
Specifically, the FDD states that Washington law RCW 49.62.060 prohibits Bonchon, as the franchisor, from restricting, restraining, or prohibiting a franchisee from soliciting or hiring any employee of another Bonchon franchisee or any employee of Bonchon itself.
Therefore, any provisions within the franchise agreement or any other document that might suggest such restrictions are considered void and unenforceable in Washington state. This ensures that Bonchon franchisees in Washington have the freedom to recruit talent from within the Bonchon franchise network and from Bonchon corporate, promoting a competitive labor market.