Have you had to sign a non-compete? The FTC is considering banning the practice

NON-COMPETE CLAUSES: The Federal Trade Commission proposed a new rule that would ban employers from imposing non-compete clauses on their employees. Non-compete clauses are meant to stop workers from entering into a similar profession with their employer's direct competitor and sharing sensitive information. But ultimately these clauses may have helped stagnate wages and career mobility for millions of workers, says Vathana Sivanesan , who is part of the HR consulting compliance team at advisory firm OneDigital .

"Non-competes traditionally were to help employers protect their valuable confidential information accessed by highly compensated employees and upper management," says Sivanesan. "But there's concern that non-competes are used on lower-wage individuals who might not even have that kind of information. It's affecting way more Americans than it should." Here's what a ban could mean for employers, and earning potential for employees going forward:

Read: The FTC has proposed banning non-compete clauses — how employers can prepare

MENTAL HEALTH: Employees want to do their best, but those efforts could actually backfire if that tips into a need to be perfect.?

"There's a difference between doing a good job and pushing that too far into perfectionism," says Kate Leismer , certified coach at CoachHub - The digital coaching platform . "If it becomes obsessive, if you can't let go and finish something or say it's done, those are a few indicators."?

The desire to be perfect can actually have the opposite effect, Leismer says. Perfectionists often miss deadlines, procrastinate or give up, which can signal to a leader they're not trying hard enough. The endless cycle can lead to high stress and?eventually burnout .?Leismer shares her tips for setting more realistic standards and striving for "good enough."

Read: Don't let perfectionism get in the way of productivity

RECRUITING TRENDS: 2023 is looking like a good time to make a professional change, and employees hold a lot of power when it comes to where, when and for whom they work.

Monster recently published its inaugural Work Watch Report, finding that 92% of employers plan to hire this year, and almost 100% of those have confidence they will find workers. Some obstacles to this optimism that are reflected in the report — staffing shortages, a lack of?DEI effort ?and an increase in skills gap — leave a lot for employers and employees to consider when seeking a positive change. Here's what HR leaders and managers should keep an eye on in the coming months:

Read: How to recruit and keep top talent in 2023