The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has approved a final consent order against Gateway Services, Inc., a pet cremation company, which prohibits the enforcement of noncompete agreements against its employees.

These noncompete agreements previously restricted employees from working in the pet cremation service industry across the United States for one year after leaving the company. The FTC's order mandates that Gateway must cease enforcing these agreements and is barred from entering into similar contracts in the future.

This decision will benefit nearly 1,800 employees by enhancing their job mobility and allowing them to negotiate better wages and benefits without the constraints of restrictive agreements.

The final order comes after the FTC's investigation revealed that Gateway's noncompete agreements were anticompetitive and detrimental to competition in the industry. Following a public comment period, the Commission voted unanimously to approve the order.