Please read your employment contract before you sign it.
Please have an attorney look at it with you to explain what it means.
Example 1 – woman wants to leave her job. She notifies her supervisor, who says “We don’t want you to leave, and if you do, you owe us $10,000.” “WHAT?” She exclaims! Upon review of the contract, it says that if she leaves before her contract is up, she owes them a certain amount of money.
I have seen this in many contracts – from counselors to doctors.
Example 2 – Man works for XYZ corp but is the only employee at XYZ that serves certain industries. He would rather work from home, and says he is going to leave. Employer reminds him that even if XYZ Corp cannot continue to work in that area, he can’t either because he signed a non-compete that prohibits him from working anywhere within a 50 mile radius of their office, serving that industry!
We see this type of situation in almost every field (but law) – accountants, car salesman, engineers – you name it
Example 3 – Client calls and explains, “In my industry, there are only 4 clients worldwide. My non-compete says for the next 5 years, I am prohibited from working at another business that serves any of those 4 clients in the way I used to at my old company. What can I do?”
Non-competes are everywhere, they limit your ability to make a living, and truly serve to quash the great American dream of working for yourself. If you want to try to fight yours, or want to know what it means – call our office. We will be happy to help.