Contract Review Lawyer Newark

After accepting a new position of employment, your employer may present you with a number of different contracts. The two most common of these are employment agreements and severance agreements. Employers include many different terms within these agreements and unfortunately, they are not always fair. Too many workers sign these contracts without even reading through them first.  They are concerned that if they do not sign it, they will lose out on an employment position and potentially, one they are very interested in. When a dispute arises in the future, these employees learn too late that they have signed away their rights.

If your employer has presented you with a contract, it is of the utmost importance that you read the agreement thoroughly, and that you fully understand the terms within it. A contract review lawyer in Newark can help you understand your rights, and will make sure you do not sign them away.

Employment Agreements

Ohio is an at-will employment state, meaning an employer can hire and fire employees at any time, and for any reason. The reason does not even have to be fair to be considered legal. The only real exception to this is when an employee is fired for discriminatory reasons. Employees that sign an employment agreement are typically not considered at-will because the contract outlines the terms of agreement. Employment agreements contain many terms, but the most common of these are as follows:

• The term of employment: Perhaps most importantly, an employment agreement will outline the term, or length, of employment. As such, employees with a written contract cannot generally be fired for any reason.
• Employment duties: Outlining the employment duties does not only ensure the employee will fulfill those duties, but it also protects the employee. With this provision in place, employers cannot force employees to take on additional tasks or responsibilities without an appropriate wage increase or promotion.
• Salary and benefits: Employment agreements will almost always include the salary the employee should receive. If the employee has been promised other benefits, such as health insurance, these must also be included in the agreement.
• Non-compete agreements: Non-compete agreements prohibit an employee from working for a competitor after they leave their current employer. These clauses should always be reviewed by a contract review lawyer in Newark, as they are often unfair.

Severance Contracts

Not all employers offer severance contracts but when they do, they usually offer employees financial compensation if they are terminated. In exchange for this compensation, employees must forfeit many rights, including the right to:

• Sue the employer
• Disclose the amount of severance pay with anyone except family members, tax specialists, and attorneys
• Make derogatory statements about the company, regardless of the truth behind them
• Reapply with the same employer in the future

Call Our Newark Contract Review Lawyer Today

At Marshall Forman & Schlein, our contract review lawyer in Newark has seen too many employees sign away their rights. We want to make sure it does not happen to you. If your employer has presented you with these types of contracts, call us today or contact us online to schedule a free consultation and to learn more.