In Washington, is Dog Haus allowed to restrict a franchisee from soliciting or hiring any employee of Dog Haus?
Dog_Haus 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 87–328)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Dog Haus Franchise Disclosure Document, in the state of Washington, Dog Haus is prohibited from restricting a franchisee from soliciting or hiring any employee of a Dog Haus franchisee or any employee of Dog Haus itself. This protection is due to RCW 49.62.060, a Washington state law.
This means that a Dog Haus franchisee in Washington has the freedom to recruit and hire employees from other Dog Haus locations or from the franchisor's corporate staff without facing legal repercussions from Dog Haus. 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 might otherwise be in place.
The FDD explicitly states that any provisions within the franchise agreement or related documents that conflict with this Washington state law are considered void and unenforceable. This ensures that the franchisee's rights under state law are protected, regardless of what the standard franchise agreement might say. This addendum reflects Washington's specific labor laws and their impact on the franchise agreement.