Non-Compete & Severance Agreements

Cincinnati Ohio Employment Law Attorneys

In today’s world of layoffs and corporate downsizing, employees can't always be certain if they'll have a job next month or next year. As a result, it's important to protect your bargaining power should a job opportunity arise outside your current employer. Increasingly, however, companies are asking employees to sign non-compete contracts and severance agreements even for non-management positions and ones that do not involve specialized knowledge. This can lead to stagnant salaries and little opportunity for job growth. Asserting your rights and protecting your competitive position within the marketplace means looking carefully and critically at non-compete agreements and severance packages before you agree to their terms. At the law office of Robert Klingler, our lawyers identify terms and conditions that are either unenforceable, unreasonable, or carry potential liability that could create legal difficulties for you later. 

Before you sign a non-compete agreement, get the facts and information you need to protect your best interests. For information regarding employee contracts, contact the law office of Robert Klingler today.

Non-Compete Agreements: Enforceability Issues

When considering whether or not to sign a non-compete, it’s important to consider what kinds of restrictions it places on you. Most non-competes include the following:

• Restrictions on the kind of employment or industry former employees can work in.
• Financial restrictions regarding ownership or investment in a competitor, including stock ownership.
• Period of time during which the employee cannot work for a competitor.
• Geographical restriction that forbid a former employee from accepting a position with a competitor within certain proximity of the company's location.

Creating an Unfair / Unreasonable Burden -- Rejecting Non-Competes

A non-compete cannot impose an unfair or unreasonable burden on an employee. Since most non-competes are intended to protect a company from losing valuable clients and resources to competitors through former employees, restrictions that over reach a company's legitimate business interests should and must be challenged. At the law office of Robert Klingler, our lawyers evaluate whether the limitations and restrictions imposed by a non-compete interfere with our client's right to earn a living and take advantage of a legitimate opportunity.

Questions? Contact the Law Office of Robert Klingler

Before you sign a non-compete agreement or accept a severance package, contact employment law attorneys at the law office of Robert Klingler today. We will evaluate the terms and conditions contained in a non-compete or severance agreement and determine the best legal options available to you.