EMPLOYMENT LAW & NON-COMPETE AGREEMENTS
What is a non-compete agreement? Non-compete agreements are documents signed by an employee, whether at the beginning or sometime during the employment with a company, promising not to work in the same competing industry, within a certain location, or work for specific employers for a defined period of time after the current employment ends. For example, if you work State Farm Insurance for many years, and are offered a job at Allstate, your current employee documentation – should it have a non-compete agreement- would hinder you from simply giving your two week’s notice and beginning your new job with Allstate.
Non-compete agreements allow employers to protect themselves from you switching your “loyalties” from one company to another. In this case, State Farm may include in their non-compete agreement that you wait one year before beginning a job with a competitive company; thus, protecting State Farm from losing their client base to your new opportunity with a competitive insurance agency. Employment lawyers can review a non-compete prior to being signed, assist you in court should you be sued for violating a non-compete, or try and guide you through getting out of a non-compete with a previous employer. While Tennessee courts “disfavor” non-competes, the courts still enforce them.
How do courts determine whether a non-compete is enforceable? Courts consider many variables; however, common inquiries include: whether the employer’s non-compete agreement extends beyond just not wanting to be competed with, whether the employee benefited from signing the non-compete, and if the requirements of the non-compete appear reasonable. Hiring an experienced employment lawyer can ensure that your companies agreement is reasonable and within your rights. While the non-compete agreement protects the company, it is your employment lawyer or attorney’s job to best protect you.
Nelson Law Group is an employment law firm located in Knoxville, Tennessee. We are in business to represent employees. We also represent people facing family issues, such as divorce and child custody. We tailor a strategy for each case based on what is most important to you, our client. Whether you are looking for discrimination lawyers knoxville tn or labor attorney knoxville TN, call us today at (865) 383-1053.