Workspan Daily News Bytes for Sept. 12, 2025

FTC Chair Issues Noncompete Warning to Healthcare Employers, Staffers

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) chairman Andrew Ferguson sent letters to several large healthcare employers and staffing firms on Wednesday, Sept. 10, urging them to conduct a comprehensive review of their employment agreements — including any noncompetes or other restrictive agreements — to ensure they are appropriately tailored and comply with federal law.

According to an FTC press release, many healthcare employers and staffing companies may include unreasonable noncompete agreements in employment contracts for vital roles like nurses, physicians and other medical professionals. These restrictions can unreasonably limit healthcare professionals’ employment options and, thereby, limit patients’ choices over who provides their medical care — including, critically, in rural areas where medical services are already stretched thin, the letters state.

The FTC has authority under Section 5 the FTC Act to investigate unfair methods of competition, including noncompete agreements that are unjustified, overbroad, or otherwise unfair or anticompetitive. The letters follow a commission vote last week to withdraw from its defense of the Biden administration’s nationwide noncompete ban.

California on Verge of Rideshare Driver Unionization Law

On Tuesday, Sept. 9, California Sen. Dave Cortese (D-Silicon), the chair of the state’s Senate Transportation Committee, presented Assembly Bill 1340 (AB 1340), also known as the Transportation Network Company Drivers Labor Relations Act, which establishes collective bargaining rights for more than 800,000 rideshare drivers in the state. The bill passed the Senate and now heads to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk for possibly signage.

Authored by assembly members Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland) and Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park), the bill sets up a new system for drivers to form unions and negotiate with companies like Uber and Lyft, while also maintaining their status as independent contractors. The bill is supported by Gov. Newsom, Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas and unions such as the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) California.

“This is a milestone for the labor movement in California, as well as a turning point in our state’s transportation landscape. Many drivers take home as little as $9 an hour after expenses,” said Sen. Cortese. “Rideshare drivers need a stronger voice to stand up against poverty wages and poor working conditions. AB 1340 provides a statutory path toward a living wage by granting drivers the ability to unionize and bargain for fair pay and benefits.”

OpenAI Introduces AI Jobs Platform and AI Certification Program

As reported by CNBC, ChatGPT maker OpenAI is developing a jobs platform centered on artificial intelligence (AI) as part of broader efforts to expand AI literacy, and as the company grows its consumer and business-facing AI applications.

“OpenAI Jobs Platform” will utilize AI to help connect qualified job candidates to employers, which could put it in competition with Microsoft’s LinkedIn. The platform is expected to launch by mid-2026, according to a company spokesperson.

Additionally, OpenAI will introduce a new certification program in connection with its “OpenAI Academy,” an online learning platform that teaches workers how to better use AI on the job. Organizations will be able to make the certificate part of their own learning and development programs, with OpenAI already working with Walmart, the largest private employer in the U.S. The retail giant recently announced it would launch its certification program next year. OpenAI said it plans to certify 10 million Americans by 2030.

“We’re launching these new initiatives as part of our commitment to the White House’s efforts toward expanding AI literacy,” said Fidji Simo, the chief executive officer of applications at OpenAI. “As we continue to build these programs, we’ll remain focused on serving the needs of both workers and employers.”

Study Finds Americans Are Working Longer Hours

By the end of 2024, U.S. workers had logged a record 296.7 billion hours, a 10.7% increase in total labor volume since 2007. Using data from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), career website MyPerfectResume analyzed metrics comparing the first quarter of 2007 to the fourth quarter of 2024 to understand the evolving American workweek.

Additional key findings from the report include:

Texas saw the largest state-level increase in hours worked since 2007, rising 34%.
Other high-growth states include North Dakota (+31%), Utah (+29%), Idaho (+28%) and Arizona (+23%).
Five states experienced declines in total hours worked: New Mexico (-3%), Vermont (-3%), Alaska (-4%), West Virginia (-5%) and Wyoming (-6%).
Economic pressure, not just job creation, is a significant factor in this context. Rising living costs, stagnant wages and labor shortages are prompting Americans to work longer hours than ever before.

The analysis found there are hidden factors to why American workers are working longer hours:

Workers are juggling multiple jobs.
Employees are covering extra shifts due to staffing gaps.
Remote workers are navigating extended workdays.
Gig and shift workers are absorbing the rising demand without added protections.

Across the board, the average workweek hours in America have increased since the mid-2000s. That rise is about more than just economic growth:

Wage stagnation means more hours are needed to make ends meet.
Labor shortages are prompting workers to stay at their jobs and take on more shifts.
Remote and hybrid work has blurred the line between home and office, extending working hours well into evenings and weekends.
Second jobs and gig work are on the rise in response to inflation and rising living costs, increasing the average work hours per week for many Americans.

Retirement Account Balances Reached Record High in Q2

Americans’ average 401(k), 403(b) and individual retirement account (IRA) balances reached record highs in the second quarter of 2025, according to Fidelity Investments’ latest retirement analysis, released on Thursday, Sept. 4.

Driven by consistent savings and positive stock market performance — and despite the market volatility experienced at the start of the quarter — the average 401(k) balance increased by 8% from a year prior, while the average 403(b) balance increased 9% and the IRA balance increased 5%.

“Even during periods of turbulence, the majority of savers are wisely making the decision to stay the course and not make sudden changes to their retirement investments,” said Sharon Brovelli, Fidelity’s president of workplace investing. “This diligence and focus on long-term retirement goals contributed to this quarter’s retirement balance rebound, demonstrating the importance of staying calm and not overreacting to market changes.”

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