Many in-house counsel and employment lawyers have not dealt with the Federal Trade Commission, which historically has focused on antitrust issues and product markets – but that is fast changing, and that means you need to adjust your knowledge and skillset, too. The agency has recently turned its attention to workplace issues such as non-compete and no-poach agreements, the coordination of wages and benefits, and the sharing of sensitive wage information among employers. And it is now issuing Civil Investigative Demands (CIDs) against employers related to these matters with increasing frequency, which means you need to develop a plan for responding. What do you need to know about this new focus, and what seven steps should you take if you find yourself on the receiving end of a CID?
