EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS
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QUESTIONS ABOUT WRITING AN EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT?
Modesto Employment Agreement Attorneys Can Help You Avoid Disputes
Your employees are the backbone of your business. Without them, you would not be able to efficiently run your operation. However, not every employee is stable, hard working or honest. As a result, a bad employee can make your life miserable. Corners can get cut that have a direct impact on your bottom line. Worse, your staff could act in an unprofessional way that leads to frustrating and time-consuming problems. The best way to protect your best interests and avoid oversight is to establish a clear contract. If you need your contracts drafted or reviewed, then our Modesto employment agreement attorneys can help.
The contract attorneys at Swingle, Van Egmond & Heitlinger understand what a difference an agreement can make. Not only can an agreement establish standards, but it can also help you avoid wrongful termination disputes. For decades, our staff has developed California employment agreement contracts. We have experience ranging from drafts of a simple employment agreement to complicated non-compete agreements. Our Modesto employment agreement attorneys can help you mitigate risk and protect your business. Furthermore, our firm can review any current agreements and offer advice.
Is California an “At-Will” Employer State?
In general, “at-will employment” is a term used to define employee contractual obligations, responsibilities and relationships. Thus, an employer can dismiss an employee for any reason. For example, you do not need a reason to fire an employee. However, an employee can damage your businesses reputation before their termination. Therefore, you can mitigate risk by modifying California’s default at-will employee status. In addition, your employment agreement can avoid legal disputes that stem from firing a bad employee. There are some situations where it is unlawful to fire an employee, the most common involving:
- Discrimination: Federal law prohibits firing an employee because of their gender, religion, age, race, national origin and disability. Claims of discrimination are serious and even baseless accusations can damage your reputation. However, a California employment agreement can establish discrimination was not a factor in a termination.
- Retaliation: In some cases, an employee can file a retaliation claim. For instance, if you dismiss an employee for an OHSA safety complaint, you might become involved in a lawsuit. Fortunately, an attorney can help clearly define why an employee is let go.
What Are Common California Contractual Provisions?
A contract provision can help you define business relationships to protect your best interests. Fortunately, California employment agreements offer a wide range of versatility. However, there are many variations across multiple industries. Thus, you should contact a legal professional to discover what provision can work best for you. Nonetheless, there are some common provisions that can help you prepare for an attorney. Our law firm can help you address issues that involve but are not limited to:
- Salary: Unfortunately, even unsubstantial California wage theft claims can impede your business. Thus, it is in your best interests to clearly define how and when your employees are paid. In addition, compensation provisions can detail standards for raises that can avoid disputes.
- Non-Compete Agreement: In some cases, you might want to avoid your employee working for a competitor. Not only can an agreement define limitations, but also mitigate risk after they leave your company.
- Intellectual Property Rights: Ownership of your company’s intellectual property can be a critical issue. Therefore, a provision that states who owns what can avoid future disputes. An efficient agreement will define ownership of patents, trademarks and copyrights.
Employee Claim Wrongful Termination? Contact Our Firm for a Consultation
Are you facing a wrongful termination claim from an employee that has always given you problems? Do you have questions about how you can protect your investments with California contractual provisions? Without a proper contract, you can face long legal disputes from frivolous claims. In addition, if you already have an agreement, an unnoticed detail could have serious consequences. Fortunately, our Modesto employment agreement attorneys can help you mitigate risk. Even if your contract has already been signed, we can review your agreement and advise on modification.
Our legal team at Swingle, Van Egmond & Heitlinger believe you deserve to have your rights protected. Furthermore, no entrepreneur should have to limit their freedom because of baseless wrongful termination claims. If you believe your agreement needs review or are involved in a California employee lawsuit, we can help. Contact our firm online or call our Modesto employment agreement attorneys at (209) 522-2211 to schedule a consultation. We can review the details of your dispute and offer resolution options.
“This firm exemplifies how a multi-faceted group of attorneys can work together to achieve positive results.”
- James M.
