In Washington, is Card My Yard prohibited from restricting a franchisee from soliciting or hiring employees of other franchisees?
Card_My_Yard 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 84–259)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Card My Yard's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Washington state law RCW 49.62.060 prohibits Card My Yard from restricting a franchisee from soliciting or hiring any employee of another Card My Yard franchisee, or from soliciting or hiring any employee of Card My Yard itself.
This means that Card My Yard cannot enforce any provision in its franchise agreement that would prevent a franchisee in Washington from actively recruiting or hiring employees who currently work for another Card My Yard franchisee or for the franchisor. Any such provisions within the franchise agreement are considered void and unenforceable in Washington state.
For a prospective franchisee in Washington, this is a beneficial protection. It allows them the freedom to seek out and hire qualified individuals, even if those individuals are already part of the Card My Yard system, without fear of legal repercussions from the franchisor. This can be particularly helpful in a competitive labor market where finding experienced employees is crucial for business success.