https://www.ft.com/content/583167ad-61f3-46fb-9935-89ebbfd4465b Hedge fund Man Group sparks backlash over non-compete agreements Move to tighten contracts comes as company battles to retain talent and combat a falling share price Costas Mourselas in London Published August 19 2025 Man Group has pressed employees to sign stricter non-compete agreements, sparking internal resistance as the company contends with a run of poor performance and a fierce industry-wide battle for top talent. In February, investment staff at the world’s largest listed hedge fund group were told to sign agreements that would extend the length of time they would have to wait before joining a competitor after leaving the firm, three people familiar with the matter told the Financial Times. Two of the people said that management received pushback over the move, while a third person said the move had prompted some staff to explore options at rival firms.
Maybe the intention is to reduce staff without layoffs. But it seems like only better people will leave.