What Is A Covenant Not To Compete In Washington?
A covenant not to compete generally implies that a Washington employee makes an agreement not to work for any of their employer's competitors should they leave the company for any reason. These covenants are typically called "non-compete clauses". Employees who sign them may either receive compensation or simply be required to agree as a condition for their employment.
When are Covenants not to Compete Unenforceable?
It is difficult to foresee whether a judge will enforce a given non-compete agreement. Even if the employee's interests may be important, Washington courts will certainly assign great weight to a person's freedom to choose the type of employment that is suitable for them. Accordingly, only those covenants which are deemed to be reasonable will be upheld by the court. Covenants not to compete that a court will categorize as unreasonable include provisions that last for a long duration or that restrict the employee to an unreasonable geographic area around Federal Way.
Covenants must also be limited to restricting dealings with those competitors that are rationally related to the employer?s industry. Lastly, the employer needs to have an acceptable business interest which justifies their motives in requiring their employee to sign a covenant not to compete.
Do I Need an Attorney when Dealing with a Covenant not to Compete?
You may want to hire a Federal Way, Washington lawyer to review the covenant before signing any agreements that may limit or restrict your rights. The lawyer will then be able to negotiate any modifications to the contract as needed, or they can even draft a new one should it be required by one or both parties. Attorneys can provide valuable counseling to employers who are considering suing an employer who breached a covenant not to compete. They can also assist employees who have signed an agreement limiting their employment options.
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There are 273 Employment and Labor Law cases posted in Federal Way
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Life in Federal Way
Federal Way is a city in the state of Washington; specifically, it is located in King County. Federal Way is located between the cities of Seattle and Tacoma. Bordering areas include Puget Sound, Des Moines, Kent, Milton, and Fife.The city's top employers include Weyerhaeuser, World Vision, St. Francis Hospital, Wild Waves Theme Park, ACS, Wal-Mart, and Coldwell Banker Danforth & Associates. Federal Way is also home to many small law offices that cater to residents' legal needs in every area of practice.
Famous residents include Dan Spillner, Kyle Secor, Michael Dickerson, Roy Thomas, Travis Ishikawa, and Kelyn Rowe.
Overall, Federal Way is a city rich in history and definitely worth visiting when in Washington!
