Non-compete agreements are used by businesses in order to retain talent, as well as protect their intellectual property, however, many employees are finding themselves feeling trapped and unable to leave their company for other, potentially more beneficial and profitable opportunities. Should I sign a non-compete agreement? If your potential employer is asking you to do […]
Negotiating Severance Agreements
When an employee is terminated, an employer may offer a severance or separation agreement. Even if the employer does not make such an offer, the employee may seek one. But what is a severance agreement and how can it help you? A severance is an agreement between the employer and the employee in which he employer […]
Non-Compete Agreements and their Implications
Non-Compete Agreements and their Implications A few generations ago it was common for a person to remain at their first job for a lifetime. If not that long, it was still common to stay at the same job for many years. But today people typically change jobs several times in their career. Sometimes there is […]
What Does a Trump Administration Mean in Employment Law
On January 20, Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 45th President of the United States. While the new administration’s policies are unclear on a wide range of issues, his comments during the campaign provide some hints on positions he will take with regard to labor and employment law. At the outset, we can assume that they […]
New in Illinois: Non-Compete Agreements With Low-Wage Earners are Illegal
On January 1, 2017, the Illinois Freedom to Work Act went into effect. The law prohibits private employers from entering into a non-compete agreement with “any low-wage employee.” The statute makes any such agreement “illegal and void.” Under the law, a non-compete agreement applies to the many common restrictive covenants including: Any agreement that prohibits working for any other employer […]
A New Year Brings New Employment Laws For Illinois
On January 1, 2017 a number of new laws went into effect in Illinois. Whether you are an employer or an employee, here are some employment laws you should know: Social Media Password Protections House Bill 4999 makes it illegal for an employer, or potential employer, to ask you to sign into your social media account […]
Have You Been the Victim of Abusive Non-Compete Agreements By Your Employer And/Or Others to Hold Your Wages Down?
The non-compete lawyers at Maduff & Maduff have spent years battling these abusive practices on behalf of clients using existing law. Now the administration has taken on these abuses with the issuance of a detailed study on the problem as a first step in strengthening worker protections. Furthermore, Vice President Joe Biden has taken a […]
New Non-Compete Cases Are Divided on Whether Continued Employment is Adequate Consideration to Support a Restrictive Covenant
Since a decision by an Illinois Appellate court in 2013 (which the Illinois Supreme Court declined to review) held that to support a non-compete agreement the employee must work for at least two years it has been a hotly debated issue. We discussed Fifield and a related case last January. Two recent non-compete decisions highlight the growing divide on this issue. […]
Employment Contracts: Should You Sign?
You got the job! Now, here comes the hard part…reading and understanding your employment contract. While you may be thrilled to start your new job, however, it is critical for a you to know what you may be accepting by signing their employment contract. And little do people know, by reviewing and understanding your employment contract before […]
Is a Non-Compete De Facto Restraining Order Preventing you From Getting Your Next Job
Employees often sign non-compete agreements as a matter of course when they take a job. They then work for a period of time for the employer without concern about the non-compete agreement. At some point the employee leaves the job. Whether this is because she saw a better opportunity, was no longer happy at the […]