West Palm Beach Non Compete Agreement Lawyer

West Palm Beach Non Compete Agreement Attorney

If you are an employee looking for a new start with another company in your field or an employer trying to prevent a former employee from joining a rival, you may need to look into non-compete agreements. Regardless of whether you are abiding by one or enforcing one, you need to understand the finer details of these agreements with the help of an experienced West Palm Beach non-compete agreement lawyer. They can determine what you need.

The legal team at the Law Offices of Gary A. Costales, P.A., can steer you in the right direction when it comes to handling or dealing with a non-compete agreement. The last thing you should do is sign something you don’t fully understand, especially when it could determine the future of your career. You want to make sure you are properly informed before you sign a non-compete agreement. A good lawyer can walk you through it.

A Non-Compete Agreement

A non-compete agreement is a legally binding contract between an employee and their employer that ensures the employee cannot seek employment with any competitors after their employment is terminated. Depending on the details of the agreement, the employee may also be unable to start their own business in the same field, especially if the work will be similar. Essentially, a non-compete agreement stops an employee from doing similar work elsewhere.

According to information from the Federal Trade Commission, an estimated one in five American workers may be subject to a non-compete agreement. That’s approximately 30 million workers in the country, with many of them based in Florida and forced to abide by the state’s employment laws.
It’s also estimated that many of the non-compete agreements these workers are told are enforceable are not actually enforceable, so many workers may be unaware of their rights.

If you are struggling to understand your employee rights as they exist under Florida state law, you may want to reach out to a local support group for workplace complications, such as the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). They provide confidential counseling to city employees and family members. There are also various mental health support groups, like NAMI Connection, that could be beneficial if your workplace struggles are starting to affect your mental health.

How Do Non-Compete Agreements Work in Florida?

For a non-compete agreement to be enforceable in Florida, it has to meet certain criteria that ensure the agreement is fair and balanced for the employee and the employer. Businesses invest multiple forms of resources into their employees, including time, money, training, knowledge, and secrets. Some companies use non-compete agreements to ensure their competitors can’t access their trade secrets. Here are the criteria a non-compete must meet:

• Valid Consideration: For an employee to agree to the restrictions outlined in the non-compete agreement, they must be offered something of value that shows the employer’s appreciation of their efforts. This could be a job offer in another part of the company, a generous severance package, or something wholly unique offered by the company as a gesture of goodwill.
• Legitimate Interest: A non-compete must be created out of a genuine need to protect certain business interests to be considered valid. It can’t be for the sole purpose of stifling the competition and dominating the market.
• Reasonable: Last but not least, the scope of the non-compete must be reasonable. The geographical area, the duration of the agreement, and the activities prohibited must be within a reasonable degree and cannot exceed what is necessary to protect business interests.

FAQs

Reach Out to a West Palm Beach Non-Compete Agreement Lawyer Today

If you believe you are restricted by a non-compete agreement, you may want to reach out to an employment lawyer and find out if that agreement is actually as enforceable as you’ve been led to believe. An experienced lawyer can help you figure out the right course of action.

The legal team at the Law Offices of Gary A. Costales, P.A., understands how frustrating it can be to have your job opportunities restricted by a non-compete. We may be able to help you. Contact us to schedule a consultation with a valued team member today.