Employment Contracts & Disputes

Employment Contracts

We regularly advise and represent employees in all aspects of their employment relationships — from hiring to separation. An employer may ask an employee to sign a variety of contracts or agreements that can dramatically affect compensation given to an employee or an employee’s future ability to earn a living. Many employment contracts serve the interests of the employer but fail to provide protection to employees.

An experienced employment attorney can review these contracts and provide crucial advice to assure that the language fully, accurately, and clearly sets forth the terms of employment.  An attorney can assist with negotiating and drafting the terms of the agreement, maximizing the compensation and benefits of an employee or minimizing the concessions an employee must make both at the time of accepting a position and at the time a position is terminated.

Employers may offer departing employees a severance agreement in exchange for a release of certain legal rights.  It is important for an employee to understand the terms of the severance and the rights that are being surrendered.

Employment Contract Disputes

Furthermore, employment-related contract issues arise when employers engage in breach of contract by taking against their employees in violation of employment agreements.  While most North Carolina employees are “at will,” some employees work under an employment contract.  Those employees may be able to demonstrate that their employer’s right to terminate them is limited by a contract specifying the length of employment or that employment will be terminated only “for cause” or for specific reasons.

Protecting Employee Rights

GMFM advises and represent employees and negotiates with employers with regard to employment-related contracts, including:

• Non-competition agreements;
• Non-solicitation agreements;
• Confidentiality agreements;
• Severance agreements;
• Breach of employment contracts; and
• Employment and benefits contracts.

If you have an employment contract dispute with your employer, let the experienced attorneys at GMFM fight to protect your rights.  Contact us for an evaluation of your case.