In Washington, is Engel & Volkers allowed to restrict a franchisee from soliciting or hiring employees of another franchisee of the same franchisor?
Engel_Volkers 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 17 — RENEWAL, TERMINATION, TRANSFER, AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION (FDD pages 63–71)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Engel & Volkers' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, in the state of Washington, Engel & Volkers is prohibited from restricting a franchisee from soliciting or hiring employees of another Engel & Volkers franchisee. This protection is explicitly stated under RCW 49.62.060, which disallows franchisors from imposing such restrictions.
This means that an Engel & Volkers franchisee in Washington has the freedom to recruit and hire employees from other Engel & Volkers franchise locations without facing legal repercussions from the franchisor. This can be a significant advantage for franchisees looking to expand their workforce or acquire experienced personnel already familiar with the Engel & Volkers system.
The FDD also clarifies that any provisions within the franchise agreement that contradict these state-specific protections are considered void and unenforceable in Washington. This ensures that the franchisee's rights are safeguarded under Washington law, overriding any conflicting terms that might be present in the standard Engel & Volkers franchise agreement. Therefore, prospective franchisees in Washington can be confident that they will not be bound by any restrictions on soliciting or hiring employees from within the Engel & Volkers franchise network.