What Should I Do if There’s a Problem with My Employment Contract?
Your employment contract may be relatively new to you – something you were recently asked to sign when you got a promotion — or it may have been one other document in the pile you went through during your employee orientation. One way or another, no matter how many times we’ve all been told to read before we sign, there’s a good chance that you glanced at it and put your John Hancock on it without giving it much thought. It’s an all-too-common occurrence, and one that only causes concern when you want to leave, or are in some other way concerned about your standing with your employer.
There are plenty of different potential problems surrounding employment contracts, but most either have to do with your employer breaching the terms of the contract or you realizing that the paperwork you signed contained unreasonable terms Let’s take a closer look.
- Breach of contract – Whether you or your employer violates the terms of a contract, it represents a legal concern. If, for example, your employer fires or demotes you or doesn’t provide you with the benefits that were originally promised, you need to confer with an attorney.
- Invalid terms – Though employment contracts are increasingly popular, courts take a dim view of those that contain invalid or unreasonable terms. Any contract that contains terms that go against state or federal laws invalidates the entire contract, and if an employment contract contains terms that are so restrictive that it would be impossible for the employee to continue earning a living or force them to relocate far outside of the geographic area or forego working in an industry entirely are unlikely to be upheld by a court. The same is true when the terms of an agreement are too broad.
Though it seems obvious in retrospect that any agreement as important as an employment contract should always have the benefit of review by an experienced attorney, it is never too late to seek help. If you find yourself in the midst of an employment contract dispute or have questions about the options available to you under the terms of a contract that you signed long ago, we can help. Contact us today to set up a time to meet and discuss your situation.
