Employee Contracts: How To Begin Your Case

In most employment situations, employers and employees have an at-will arrangement, meaning both can end the relationship at any time, for any reason, and are not required to give notice. However, in some situations, employees have signed contracts. When this is the case, the employment relationship has a variety of restrictions in place that can lead to conflict if not properly followed. If you have signed a contract but now have some questions, here is how Denville NJ employment attorneys at The Law Offices of G. Martin Meyers can help.

Illegal Firings

If you have signed an employment contract, your employer can only fire you for specific reasons, such as committing a criminal act or being involved in another situation that allows them to have “good cause” to fire you. However, some employers ignore the terms of these contracts and nevertheless fire employees in retaliation for whistleblowing, filing complaints about wages, hours, or working conditions, or discriminating against them based on their race, religion, or sexual orientation.

Contract Terms

For many employees who sign contracts, one of the most common aspects is a noncompete clause, meaning if you do leave you cannot go to work for a competitor or start a similar business for a specified period of time. While this sounds simple enough, be aware that some states consider these clauses illegal, while others place restrictions on the amount of time or geographic areas the clauses can contain. Because of this, prior to signing any contract with a noncompete clause, have an attorney review it and explain any aspects you may not understand.

Since employment contracts can be written, oral, or implied, it is easy for disputes to arise. If you find yourself in the midst of these complex legal matters, contact the Denville NJ employment attorneys at The Law Offices of G. Martin Meyers for a consultation.