What Are Employment Contracts?
Employment contracts set the terms of employment, covering everything from job responsibilities to compensation and post-employment restrictions. These agreements can impact your career long after termination, making it essential to review every clause before signing.
Types of Employment Contracts
There are several types of employment contracts, each serving different purposes.
1. Severance Agreements
Severance agreements become effective once employment ends. These agreements dictate any further compensation in exchange for certain conditions, like waiving rights. Reviewing severance terms with an experienced severance agreement lawyer can ensure you aren’t giving up more than you gain.
2. Noncompete Agreements
Noncompete agreements limit where you can work after leaving your employer. Our noncompete agreement lawyers can review your contract to determine:
- Whether the noncompete is enforceable in Florida
- If you can accept a new job without violating restrictions
- Options for negotiating or invalidating an unfair agreement
3. Term Employment Agreements
These agreements set fixed employment periods and define termination conditions, benefits, job duties, and restrictive clauses. Employers often include one-sided terms—we help negotiate fairer conditions that protect you.
4. Offer Letters
Employers won’t tell you that offer letters are negotiable—but they are. We help employees negotiate higher salaries, signing bonuses, and better benefits before they accept a job.
Every contract you sign affects your career—review it with an attorney first.
How We Help You Negotiate Severance Agreements
Kaplan Employment Law reviews your severance offer, identifies leverage points, and develops a negotiation strategy to maximize your payout and protect your career. We negotiate directly with your employer’s legal team, ensuring fair compensation and limiting restrictive clauses. Before signing, we thoroughly review and explain the agreement, so you fully understand your rights. Our goal: secure the best terms for you.
What Should a Severance Agreement Include?
- Severance Pay: Total amount and whether it’s a lump sum or installments.
- Bonus & Commissions: Ensure all earned but unpaid bonuses, commissions, and stock options are included.
- Benefit Continutation: Clarify health insurance, retirement contributions, and other post-employment benefits.
- Non-Disparagement & Confidentiality: Ensure mutual restrictions on negative statements.
- Noncompete & Nonsolicitation: Prevent overly restrictive clauses limiting future employment.
- Neutral Reference: Employer provides only job title and dates of employment to prospective employers.
- Cause for Termination: Determine if termination impacts severance payout.
- General Release of Claims: Understand the rights you are waiving.
A severance agreement affects both your finances and your future career. Kaplan Employment Law fights for the best terms to protect your future.
Kaplan Employment Law Helps You Review Your Noncompete Agreements
Noncompete agreements can limit your career opportunities if not carefully reviewed. These agreements restrict you from working for competitors or starting your own business in the same industry for a specific time and within a defined area.
Are Noncompete Agreements Enforceable in Florida?
Florida only enforces noncompetes if they meet strict legal requirements, including:
- A legitimate business interest: protecting trade secrets or client relationships.
- A reasonable timeframe: typically, two years or less.
- Geographic limits: excessively broad restrictions may be unenforceable.
For example, a noncompete prohibiting you from working in your industry for two years across the entire state of Florida is likely unenforceable. We help negotiate better terms or challenge unfair restrictions.
