From what I can tell from one listing of the text[0], it looks like there are two levels of protection.
The first (what you were discussing) prohibits non-competes completely for certain classes of employees (non-exempt, interns in school, employees terminated without cause or laid off).
The second applies to everyone else and has 8 requirements for a non-compete to be enforceable, including "the agreement includes a garden leave clause or other mutually-agreed upon consideration between the employer and the employee", where the garden clause includes at least 50% of the employee's wage! Of course, "other mutually-agreed upon consideration" could be something much less...
Also interesting: the law looks like it applies to any non-competes signed after October 1 - it starts in 10 days!
The first (what you were discussing) prohibits non-competes completely for certain classes of employees (non-exempt, interns in school, employees terminated without cause or laid off).
The second applies to everyone else and has 8 requirements for a non-compete to be enforceable, including "the agreement includes a garden leave clause or other mutually-agreed upon consideration between the employer and the employee", where the garden clause includes at least 50% of the employee's wage! Of course, "other mutually-agreed upon consideration" could be something much less...
Also interesting: the law looks like it applies to any non-competes signed after October 1 - it starts in 10 days!
EDIT: IANAL
0: https://www.faircompetitionlaw.com/2018/08/06/massachusetts-...