For all the people leaving SF/Bay-Area and particularly California, I wanted to ask these two questions.
1. California has the strongest non-compete laws in the nation, was this something that influenced your decision?
2. California has IP laws which are to the effect that "what you create in your own time with your own resources cannot be used by your employer" (disclaimer IANAL). This has a grey area for large FAANG type employers that can enter any domain, but Bay-Area has lots of companies doing amazing things. So it opens up opportunities to start new companies in new frontiers.
The above two are still major factors that are preventing me from leaving California at least despite the high taxes, rents etc...
Bay-Area is still the best place w.r.t to getting investment and finding interesting tech-companies.
I left the bay area in 2020. Neither of those 2 really were on my mind. I haven't heard any horror stories about tech companies trying to enforce any kind of non-compete outside of CA so it never really popped in my mind.
Biggest issues were 1) no state income tax, 2) money goes a lot further, 3) gov't policies unfriendly to businesses and middle class, 4) more moderate political climate, 5) better social life.
What I miss the most is the more temperate weather and being able to grow food in my backyard.
California has the strongest non-compete laws in the nation, was this something that influenced your decision?
You can always move back to California and work for a California employer, at which point the courts will likely nullify any non-compete as contrary to California law and public policy.
Comments
For all the people leaving SF/Bay-Area and particularly California, I wanted to ask these two questions.
1. California has the strongest non-compete laws in the nation, was this something that influenced your decision?
2. California has IP laws which are to the effect that "what you create in your own time with your own resources cannot be used by your employer" (disclaimer IANAL). This has a grey area for large FAANG type employers that can enter any domain, but Bay-Area has lots of companies doing amazing things. So it opens up opportunities to start new companies in new frontiers.
The above two are still major factors that are preventing me from leaving California at least despite the high taxes, rents etc...
Bay-Area is still the best place w.r.t to getting investment and finding interesting tech-companies.
I'm curious what thoughts others have here.
I left the bay area in 2020. Neither of those 2 really were on my mind. I haven't heard any horror stories about tech companies trying to enforce any kind of non-compete outside of CA so it never really popped in my mind.
Biggest issues were 1) no state income tax, 2) money goes a lot further, 3) gov't policies unfriendly to businesses and middle class, 4) more moderate political climate, 5) better social life.
What I miss the most is the more temperate weather and being able to grow food in my backyard.
You can grow food in your backyard in most places in the US especially the south.
You can always move back to California and work for a California employer, at which point the courts will likely nullify any non-compete as contrary to California law and public policy.