Workforce

Today, Small Business Majority sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) urging the agency to enact its proposed rule to ban non-compete agreements. This letter is accompanied by personal testimony from small business owners impacted by non-compete agreements. 

More than 400 small business owners and business organizations signed on to our letter urging the Federal Trade Commission to enact its proposed rule to ban non-compete agreements. Non-compete agreements are a significant impediment to entrepreneurship, create a non-level playing field and impede the ability of employees to maximize their skills.

As of April 13, more than 400 small business owners and small business organizations have signed onto a letter urging the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to enact its proposed rule to ban non-compete agreements. On April 19, lead partner organizations Small Business Majority, American Sustainable Business Network, Main Street Alliance, Pacific Community Ventures, and Right to Start will submit a final letter to the FTC in response to its comment period.

Today, Public Policy Director, Awesta Sarkash, submitted a letter of support to Pennsylvania's House Judiciary Committee for HB 689, legislation that would expand Pennsylvania’s Clean Slate laws and ensure people who have served their time get at second chance. With small businesses facing an acute labor shortage and 1 in 3 American adults having some form of criminal or arrest record, there are major opportunities to change barriers to employment that would benefit the small business ecosystem. 

On March 30, Small Business Majority's Public Policy Director Awesta Sarkash wrote in support for SB 1281, legislation that would end the OmniBase program in Texas. This program enforces debt-based license holds on individuals with overdue fines and fees, which impacts small businesses and their employees and their ability to seek employment and entrepreneurship opportunities.  

Small Business Majority has created a comprehensive state policy agenda to ensure entrepreneurship is recognized as the lifeforce of a thriving and inclusive economy in California. The state’s 4.2 million small businesses comprise 99.9% of all businesses in the state, and they employ 7 million residents–nearly half of all California employees.

Small Business Majority’s Illinois policy agenda outlines policies that advance and promote equitable pathways for entrepreneurship while ensuring small businesses are key to a thriving and inclusive economy. Illinois' 1.3 million small businesses employ 2.3 million people, representing 43.6% of the private workforce. This agenda recognizes the distinct needs of both solopreneurs, who make up 80% of all businesses, and employer firms.