Does RCW 49.62.060 prohibit Zoomin Groomin from restricting a franchisee from soliciting or hiring any employee of a franchisee of the same franchisor?
Zoomin_Groomin Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
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- Nonsolicitation Agreements.
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 — g. of the Disclosure Document is modified to state that, in addition to the grounds for immediate termination specified in Item 17.h., the franchisor can terminate upon written notice and a 60 day opportunity to cure for a breach of the Franchise Agreement. (FDD pages 51–65)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Zoomin Groomin's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, RCW 49.62.060 does indeed prohibit Zoomin Groomin from restricting a franchisee from soliciting or hiring any employee of a franchisee operating under the same franchisor. This protection is specifically outlined in the Washington addendum to the FDD.
This means that Zoomin Groomin franchisees in Washington State have the freedom to recruit and hire employees from other Zoomin Groomin franchise locations without facing legal repercussions from the franchisor. The FDD explicitly states that any provisions within the franchise agreement or other related documents that attempt to contravene this are considered void and unenforceable in Washington.
For a prospective Zoomin Groomin franchisee in Washington, this is a significant advantage. It allows them to tap into a potentially experienced talent pool within the Zoomin Groomin franchise network. However, franchisees should still be mindful of ethical considerations and maintain professional relationships with other franchisees when recruiting employees. This also means that Zoomin Groomin franchisees need to be aware that their employees may be solicited by other franchisees.