Middletown employment lawyers get calls every week from people upset about being asked to sign a non-compete agreement. They don’t think these agreements are fair and they want help. Since every situation is different, it’s hard to tell them what to do. Usually, it’s a matter of taking a job or accepting a promotion or turning it down. So, the advice you get is really important. That’s why it’s a good idea to call and set up a date and time to meet with a skilled attorney right away.
Why Would Your Employer Want You to Sign this Agreement?
Companies ask their staff to sign non-compete agreements to protect themselves. They worry that you could go to work for one of their competitors and give them trade secrets. Or they fear that you could take client information with you and try to steal their clients. Most people would never do something like this. Most people leave their job for a better opportunity. However, there are some disgruntled employees who may want to hurt their ex-employer There are also people who are lured away from their jobs because of the information they have. This is the sort of thing that companies are afraid of.
Your Middletown Employment Lawyer Will Argue You Have a Right to Make a Living
If your employer does get you to sign this form, you’ll have to be careful down the road. If you choose to leave and take a position with a direct competitor, your employer will pursue the matter. They may simply send you a letter warning you that you’re in violation of your non-compete agreement. If they feel you are in a position to cost them money directly, they may ask the court for an injunction, preventing you from accepting the job.
What Kind of Position with the Company Do You Hold?
Non-compete agreements are typically limited to people in positions of management. Entry-level employees are not often required to sign these documents. Your Middletown employment lawyer will have to find out what sort of position you hold at the company. If you’re involved in sales or collections, your company may have a bigger reason for need a non-compete. If, however, you work in an administrative capacity, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to have you sign one of these agreements.
Does the Company Have a History of Enforcing these Agreements?
One thing your Middletown employment lawyer is going to research is the company’s history of enforcing these agreements. Some companies require their staff to sign these things and then never do anything about it. There have even been companies that get these signed and then lose the document. What your attorney will do is check to see if your employer has ever sued anyone over this sort of agreement before. If so, then you’ll want to take it seriously. Your lawyer could check to see if the agreements held up in court. If so, then your choices are to take the job knowing they can come after you for leaving or turning the job down.
These Agreements Can Be Hard to Enforce
Employers have every right to ask you to sign a non-compete agreement. However, that doesn’t mean a court will enforce it. Judges don’t believe that anybody should limit your opportunities to work. If a non-compete agreement is too limiting, the court could strike it down. Or they may construe it to be less restrictive. The problem is, you’re upset that you’ve been asked to sign on upon hire. If your choice is to sign the paper or not take the job, it can leave you in a pickle.
Call and Speak with a Skilled Middletown Employment Lawyer
A lot of people are surprised when they’re asked to sign a non-compete agreement. They don’t realize how common they are, especially in the sales field. If you work with clients, your employer worries about what you’ll do if you leave the company. They don’t want you taking client contact information with you. Nor do they want you working for their direct competitor. But it doesn’t seem right that they can force you to sign this sort of agreement. You want to talk to a Middletown employment lawyer at Aeton Law Partners to find out what your rights are. What you should do is call and ask to set up a date and time to meet with one of our experienced attorneys. They can review your case and let you know what your options are.