In Washington, is Chatime permitted to restrict a franchisee from soliciting or hiring any employee of another Chatime franchisee?

According to the 2025 Chatime Franchise Disclosure Document, in the state of Washington, Chatime is prohibited from restricting a franchisee from soliciting or hiring any employee of another Chatime franchisee. This is due to RCW §49.62.060, which explicitly prevents a franchisor from imposing such restrictions. Therefore, any provisions within the Franchise Agreement that conflict with this law are considered void and unenforceable in Washington. This protection extends both to employees of other franchisees and to employees of Chatime itself.

This means that a Chatime franchisee in Washington has the freedom to recruit and hire employees from other Chatime locations or from Chatime corporate, without fear of legal repercussions from the franchisor. This can be a significant advantage for franchisees looking to build a skilled and experienced team, as they are not limited by non-solicitation clauses that are common in many franchise agreements. It also promotes a more competitive labor market within the Chatime franchise system in Washington.

Prospective franchisees should be aware of this specific protection under Washington law, as it differs from the standard practice in many other states where franchisors can enforce non-solicitation agreements. This provision aims to balance the interests of the franchisor in maintaining a stable workforce with the franchisee's right to freely operate their business and attract qualified employees. Chatime franchisees in Washington should ensure they understand their rights under RCW §49.62.060 and that their Franchise Agreement does not contain any conflicting clauses that would be unenforceable in the state.