In almost every place of employment, employers will require their employees to sign various contracts and agreements. That said, it’s important to understand what you’re signing before you do so. Whether you need help understanding a contract, are looking to negotiate the terms of an employment contract, or are facing accusations of violating such a contract, our Providence employment agreement lawyer is here to help.
Employment Agreement Lawyer Serving Clients in Providence, Rhode Island
The implications of signing virtually any employment agreement can be long-lasting and significant. For this reason, it’s always best to proceed with a competent Providence County, Rhode Island employment lawyer who has significant experience handling these documents and working with employees in similar situations.
Non-Disclosure Agreements
There are a wide variety of scenarios that may warrant a non-disclosure agreement. Oftentimes, employers require their employees to sign a non-disclosure agreement before sharing a trade secret, sensitive client information, information regarding a new product or patent, or any other private information that should stay within the company.
Because non-disclosure agreements are primarily designed to protect private information, one can imagine that the consequences of violating them are often rather severe. Generally, the consequences of violating a non-disclosure agreement will be included in the agreement itself. Oftentimes, the consequences for violating a non-disclosure agreement may include civil penalties (such as when someone is caught in an act of copyright infringement) or even criminal penalties, depending on the severity and nature of the violation.
Severance Agreements
Severance agreements are typically offered by employers when laying off employees. Essentially, a severance agreement is a contract that offers employees a certain amount of pay for a pre-determined period of time to help them financially as they look for a new job. While this sounds great, when a person signs a severance agreement, it will likely prohibit them from ever taking any legal action against the company (such as filing a wrongful termination claim).
This is why although severance agreements can be great for employees, it’s not always the case, which is why before signing any such agreement, you should strongly consider speaking with a knowledgeable employment agreement lawyer who can analyze the proposed agreement and ensure it’s working in your best interests.
Non-Compete Agreements
A non-compete agreement is a document designed to prevent employees in niche fields from taking their knowledge from one company and applying that knowledge to a competing company or starting their own competing company. That said, in some cases, these agreements are too broad in scope or geography and may impact an employee’s future prospects unfairly. This is why it’s always wise to speak with an employment agreement lawyer before signing any such agreement.
Contact a Rhode Island Employment Agreement Lawyer
The bottom line is that regardless of the agreement you’re being asked to sign, the most important thing you can do is retain the services of a competent employment agreement lawyer who can help ensure your agreement is fair and works in your best interests. Contact the Herman Law Group today to schedule your initial consultation with our dedicated legal team.