What to Do When Your Employer Asks You to Sign A Non-Compete

Originally published by Vethan Law.

Non-compete agreements are a pretty standard part of business and employment. Businesses obviously want to protect their assets and need safeguards in place to do so. One of those safeguards is a non-compete. These agreements typically prevent employees from working for competitors, sharing company secrets, etc. So as an employee, what can you do to protect yourself? After all, if you work in a niche industry your options for alternative employment might be limited to competitors.

Don’t Just Sign It

The first thing you need to do, is to refrain from signing it and handing it back in immediately. You should get in a habit of reading every document that you sign, so that you know exactly what you are signing away and signing into. While some things like software terms of services are a bit ridiculous to read through, documents that can affect your life such as a contract, home loan, and non-compete are all things that you should thoroughly read through.

Review the Terminology

When you are reading through the non-compete agreement, you want to focus on the terminology and details. In Texas especially, there is a common practice of being too broad or vague with terms. Part of the reason is that Texas law regarding non-competes changes quite often. You objective should be to have a non-compete that clearly states competition, geography, and duration. Overly broad terms will avoid this and could making it much more difficult for you to find a future employer. They will be wary of hiring you after seeing a non-compete that could put them at risk.

Bring it to an Attorney

In the end, your best bet is to bring your non-compete agreement to an attorney prior to signing it. Even if you feel that you have a strong grasp of the terminology and statements, it is always a good thing to get a second opinion. An attorney will have experience dealing with all sorts of non-compete agreements that Texas employers have provided and can thus provide you with a green light to sign, or a counter-agreement that has terms better suited for your situation.

If you are in need of a Texas wage lawyer in Dallas, contact Vethan Law Firm.

The post What to Do When Your Employer Asks You to Sign A Non-Compete appeared first on Vethan Law Firm.

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