What Is A Covenant Not To Compete In Wisconsin?
A covenant not to compete generally implies that a Wisconsin 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?
Foreseeing whether or not a judge will uphold a covenant not to compete is generally difficult. Even if the employee's interests may be important, Wisconsin 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. Those provisions that courts have seen to be unreasonable include those that last for an prolonged period of time or cover geographic areas around Eau Claire that are unreasonably large.
The agreements must also deal only with those competitors whose line of employment is rationally related to the previous employer's. Lastly, there must be a legitimate business interest which motivates the employer's mandating a covenant not to compete.
Do I Need an Attorney when Dealing with a Covenant not to Compete?
A Eau Claire, Wisconsin lawyer can help you review the covenant before you sign any documents that might limit your rights. The lawyer can assist you in negotiating modifications or if needed, they can possibly draft a new agreement which will be acceptable to both parties. A lawyer can also render useful advice for employers who are considering suing an employee for breach of covenant, or they can counsel employees who have signed such an agreement.
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Life in Eau Claire
Eau Claire is located in west Wisconsin, and is part of Eau Claire County. It is home to approximately 66,000 people. An interesting fact is that Eau Claire was one of the first Tree Cities to have been recognized. Also, in 2007 America's Promise named Eau Claire as one of the 100 best communities for young people.Top employers include Hutchinson Technology, IDEXX Laboratories, Midwest Manufacturing and Open-Silicon. The legal industry also has a presence to support the needs of small and large corporations in Eau Claire. Small law offices and mid-size law firms train competent attorneys to provide excellent legal services to the city's residents.
Famous athletes have, at one time or another, called this city home. Such athletes include Hank Aaron, Jake Dowell, Mike Hintz, Herm Johnson, Vic Johnson, Paul Menard, Sis Paulsen, Ralph Pond, Brad Radke, Bill Schroeder, and Jerry Wunsch.
All in all, Eau Claire is a wonderful place to visit or call home!
