Noncompete Agreements in Midwife Agreements

Description

Noncompete Agreements in Midwife Agreements

By Joseph W. Booth, J.D., M.Div., General Counsel, Grow Midwives, LLC

Introduction

Balancing the interests of both the employee and the employer in contract offers is a challenge. Employers fear that a midwife will develop a loyal following and then leave the practice, causing the practice a host of negative consequences. The employer loses the production and load-sharing the midwife’s work represented and risks losing market share. The employee, constrained by a non-compete clause, is either forced leave the practice for the non-compete period, or the community loses a midwife. With a growing healthcare workforce shortage worsening every year, losing an essential healthcare provider within a community can have devastating impact.