Noncompete clauses have long been used to retain executives and keep ex-employees from ‘stealing’ clients and company information. Now, in the midst of a serious caregiver shortages, restrictive agreements are gaining popularity for low-wage workers in the home health industry. The most common trends: agreements that let caregivers work for competitors but not take clients or co-workers with them and a financial penalty for customers who hire an agency caregiver directly. While such agreements may have some benefits, experts caution that they actually could drive caregivers to other industries or settings. Read the full story.