In Washington, is City Publications allowed to restrict a franchisee from soliciting or hiring employees of other franchisees?
City_Publications 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. 2.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPT (FDD pages 39–129)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to City Publications' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the franchisor is prohibited from restricting a franchisee in Washington from soliciting or hiring employees of another City Publications franchisee. Specifically, the Washington Addendum to the Franchise Agreement states that any provisions in the franchise agreement that conflict with this are void and unenforceable in Washington. This protection is afforded by RCW 49.62.060.
This means that a City Publications franchisee in Washington has the freedom to recruit and hire employees from other franchisees within the City Publications system without facing legal repercussions from the franchisor. This can be a significant advantage for franchisees looking to expand their workforce or acquire experienced personnel.
However, it is important to note that this protection applies specifically to the franchisor's restrictions. It does not prevent individual franchisees from independently agreeing not to solicit or hire each other's employees. Additionally, the Washington Franchise Investment Protection Act and other court decisions may supersede the franchise agreement in areas of termination and renewal, so franchisees should be aware of their rights under Washington law.