Los Angeles Restrictive Covenant & Non-Compete Agreement Lawyer
In other states, it is not uncommon for employers to ask new employees to sign a non-compete agreement before they are officially hired. Non-compete agreements protect employers by restricting an employee’s right to divulge trade secrets, share information, or work for a competing firm in the future. Although other states may deem these non-compete agreements legal, they are strictly prohibited in California. If your employer has forced you to sign a non-compete agreement, or you feel they are discriminating against you for refusing to sign one, a Los Angeles non-compete agreement lawyer can protect your rights.
What is a Non-Compete Agreement?
Non-compete agreements are contracts between employers and employees. Most often, employers present these agreements to employees before they are officially hired and begin job duties. Employees that sign these contracts agree not to start a competing business or work for the competition for a certain period of time after employment ends.
Non-compete agreements in California though, are strictly prohibited. When an employer forces an employment candidate to sign one, or discriminates against them for refusing, the worker can hold the employer liable for any damages they sustained as a result.
Restrictive Covenants
It is not unusual for employers to also prohibit employees from sharing certain information in these contracts. That information can include:
- Practices and methods used,
- Policies,
- Client or customer lists,
- Pricing,
- Intellectual property,
- Information on upcoming projects,
- Salaries, and
- Marketing strategies.
The above information, or any other the employee is prohibited from sharing may be included in a restrictive covenant. Restrictive covenants go by many names in business including non-disclosure agreements and non-solicitation agreements. Whether or not an employer has violated your rights will depend on the facts of your case. For example, while non-compete agreements are prohibited by state law, the same is not true for all restrictive covenants. An employer may be successful in upholding the terms of a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) if it is very specific to the employment situation and the court does not find it too vague.
The Right to Damages
The problem with non-compete agreements, and why they are outlawed in California, is that they prevent workers from earning a living once they no longer work for the employer. When employers violate the rights of their workers and force them into a non-compete agreement and employees suffer harm as a result, they can hold their employer liable for paying damages. Those damages are typically made up of lost income, although a non-compete agreement lawyer can advise on the full compensation available in a specific case.
Call Our Non-Compete Agreement Lawyer in Los Angeles Today
The law guarantees equal opportunity for everyone. For a confidential consultation with an experienced Los Angeles non-compete agreement lawyer, contact Litigation, P.C., at 424-284-2401 or online to learn about your legal options. We routinely handle matters throughout SoCal.