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You should not sign any document before you have read and understood what you are signing. Many of our employment law clients have signed non-compete agreements, non-solicitation agreements and confidentiality agreements and are unaware of the restrictions of the agreements. Also, many times the company maintains the only copy of the non-compete agreement, non-solicitation agreement and confidentiality agreement.
Employers in New Jersey are permitted by law to require employees to sign non-compete agreements, non-solicitation agreements, confidentiality agreements and arbitration agreements. The agreements may prevent you from working for a competitor for a certain period of time (typically maximum of 2 years) after your employment with the company ends (by termination or resigning), prohibit you from asking employees to join you at your new employer, prohibit you from disclosing information about the company, and prevent you from filing a lawsuit in court against the company.
Accordingly, you should review all of the documents you receive from your employer before signing them. You should also request a copy of each document you signed for your own personal file. If you have any questions regarding the documents, you should discuss them with an employment attorney before signing the documents. Once you sign the non-compete agreement, non-solicitation agreement and confidentiality agreement, you are bound to the terms of the agreement.
For additional information on this subject, please read Review Agreements From Company or Employer Before Signing.
March 17, 2010 – Tom McKinney – Castronovo & McKinney – New Jersey Non-Compete Lawyers