While state law does not require that companies enter into employment contracts with their employees, these agreements are useful in modifying the terms of traditional at-will employment. Companies may feel the need to secure an agreement with a key employee or upper management.
Employment agreements can help protect an employer and the employee by clearly outlining terms like compensation and job duties. Talk to a Dominion employment contracts lawyer when you need assistance preparing these agreements. Our seasoned contract attorneys are here to help.
Texas generally adheres to the policy of at-will employment. This means that a company can fire an employee for any lawful reason and that employees can leave the job at any time without restrictions.
Companies and employees can modify this default at-will employment status by entering an employment agreement. Employment agreements are useful as they can eliminate future disputes or misunderstandings between the parties about their obligations.
Employment agreements can help a company clearly define an employee’s role and job expectations. These contracts allow the parties to tailor the terms of the agreement specifically based on the nature of the job.
Although parties can make verbal agreements, writing down the terms of employment is critical to helping the employer and employee avoid potential disputes.
Some companies also see certain employees as essential to the business’s success, mainly if the person is a founder or possesses certain intellectual property. Employment contracts can help secure their employment for a specific duration. In addition to drafting an employment agreement, a Dominion lawyer could help you analyze existing contracts.
When drafting an employment agreement, you have the flexibility to decide which terms are included in the contract. Certain terms are standard for most employment contracts, while others will depend on the specific job role.
Some examples of key terms in employment agreements include:
The choice of law governing the employment agreement may vary if a company does business nationwide or worldwide. A Dominion attorney could help you understand the provisions necessary for your employment agreement based on your situation.
When drafting employment agreements, employers must consider that the state may not deem all provisions as enforceable. Courts generally disfavor specific provisions if they are deemed unreasonable in their scope.
For example, an employer may have difficulty enforcing a non-compete provision if the term is overly broad or restrictive. When drafting non-compete provisions, employers must ensure the language is not unreasonable in scope, duration, and geographic limitations.
Employers must also ensure that the employment terms do not violate existing federal or state laws. Since employers are generally in a more advantageous position when negotiating these contracts, they must keep the contract fair and avoid unconscionable terms.
Engaging a skilled employment contracts lawyer in Dominion could help employers avoid these pitfalls.
Our legal team at Begum Peláez-Prada PLLC is ready to step in when you need legal assistance from a Dominion employment contracts lawyer. Sasha Begum leads a group of knowledgeable legal professionals with experience with employment agreements.
We pride ourselves on giving our clients the utmost attention. Sasha has experience with large law firms and in-house counsel. Please contact us today to discuss your employment contract needs.
