Orange County California Employment Attorney

Non-competition Agreements

A non-competition agreement is a contract between an employer and their employees that prohibits the employees from working for a competitor and/or with the current employer’s clients. A recent Supreme Court ruling in the State of California outlawed such types of binding contracts. There are a few exceptions to the law for company owners and business partners.

Employee’s Rights

As an employee or prospective employee you cannot legally be terminated or not hired for refusing to sign a non-competition agreement. Should an employer take retaliatory action for your refusal to sign, you could file a lawsuit for wrongful termination. Even if you do sign the agreement, the contract and its terms are worthless because they are viewed as void in court.

Protecting Your Business

California business owners can protect the vital interests of their companies without an invalid non-compete agreement. They can do so via nondisclosure agreement and by protecting their confidential information. The one stipulation is that they may not prohibit employees from working for a competitor.

Being Sued by an Employer

The truth is that anyone can be sued. However, you are not liable for breaking the conditions of a non-compete agreement because they are not valid under California state law.

If you or someone you know has been forced to sign a non-competition agreement as part of the terms of your employment or fired because of your refusal to do so, you may be entitled to recover damages for your losses. Contact Orange County employment lawyer Perry Smith at 888.356.2529 for a free initial consultation. We will discuss your case and further legal options.