In the pursuit of protecting closely held secrets, many businesses in Florida and elsewhere require employees to sign noncompete agreements prior to beginning work. While at the time these contracts might not seem important, such an agreement could have an impact on one's ability to obtain employment with another company within a given period, especially if that company is a rival. This can lead to noncompete disputes that could prompt a need for an individual to seek guidance on how best to proceed.

Noncompete agreements are contracts that could prohibit employees from pursuing a position with a competitor of the previous company for a set period of time. These agreements may be more common among higher ranking employees and in innovative fields such as those pertaining to technology. However, a multitude of professions may feel the need to protect business interests through similar methods, and could require most or all employees to sign such an agreement.

The lines defining which companies operate within a competitive field can also be blurred, which could leave an individual feeling as though a similar contract is unfair or unjust. However, an employee may be able to avoid a potentially stressful outcome by becoming informed on the various aspects of the agreement. Unfortunately, even if an individual has no intention of passing along trade secrets, an employer may still wish to prohibit him or her from accepting a new position with a rival company.

When facing noncompete disputes, an individual may find it advisable to seek guidance in the initial stages of the process. By speaking with an experienced attorney, a person in Florida could obtain some much-needed advice on the best course of action with which to proceed. An attorney can thoroughly evaluate the situation, along with the noncompete agreement, and assist a client in pursuing the most favorable outcome achievable.

Source: Forbes, “Could A Noncompete Keep You From Getting Work?“, Nancy Collamer, Accessed on Nov. 27, 2017