The language used in an employment contract is critical and can shape the course of a person’s career. It is smart to consult with a Washington, D.C. employment agreements lawyer whether you are reviewing a new contract, negotiating executive compensation, considering a severance package, or trying to understand restrictive provisions.
Many employment disputes begin with documents signed months or even years earlier. The seasoned employment attorneys at Seldon Bofinger can evaluate the agreement within the broader context of your employment and workplace, your career goals, and the legal protections available under federal and state law. Contact our firm today to schedule your initial consultation.
What Can Employment Agreements Affect Other Than Your Salary?
Employment agreements frequently address multiple issues, including:
- Confidentiality
- Intellectual property
- Performance expectations
- Unpaid salaries, commissions, and bonuses
- Dispute resolution procedures
- Restrictive covenants
- Whether your employer needs cause to terminate you or to give you advance notice
Employees are also pressured to sign unexpected severance agreements quickly, particularly when they are facing a deadline from an employer or have reasons of their own to move on right away. However, seemingly routine language in severance agreements may have lasting consequences. For example, an agreement may limit future employment opportunities through non-compete or non-solicitation provisions as permitted by law. It may also require arbitration and that the costs be split between you and your employer. Agreements drafted by employers may include severance terms that are favorable, but provisions stating you are eligible for a bonus after you leave are rarely favorable. Confidentiality provisions your employer may include can be very disadvantageous to you. These issues and others, like continuing healthcare insurance and forfeiting your employer’s past contributions to a profit-sharing plan, are difficult to navigate without legal counsel.
A thoughtful consultation with a Washington, D.C., employment contract lawyer often identifies provisions that are unfavorable to you before you sign a severance agreement. Your attorney may be able to help plan a strategy for getting a better severance agreement than your employer is offering or even negotiate a settlement on your behalf. Severance agreements drafted by employers rarely balance the interests of employees. Working with an lawyer can ensure more favorable language is added where appropriate and reduce the risk of future misunderstandings.
Employment agreements also become central to cases involving misconduct that develops after hiring, including potential issues with discrimination, retaliation, denial of reasonable accommodations, and harassment. Additional issues, including wage theft, equal pay, or wrongful termination, may also intersect with contractual rights.
The Importance of Agreements When Workplace Misconduct Arises
Legal guidance on their employment contracts is vital when employees in Washington, D.C. discover unlawful or unethical conduct in the workplace. Many whistleblower cases involve employees who report practices that threaten public safety, misuse taxpayer dollars, or undermine government programs. These concerns may include:
- Fraud, waste, and abuse involving government contracts
- Unsafe conditions at commercial nuclear facilities
- Environmental violations
- Falsification of safety records or regulatory reports
Employees who raise these concerns sometimes experience retaliation, including termination or demotion. Other adverse employment actions range from exclusion from important projects to reduced responsibilities and negative performance reviews.
Whistleblower litigation often involves complicated statutory frameworks, including protections under laws such as the False Claims Act, Sarbanes-Oxley, OSHA whistleblower provisions, and other statutes.
Complex Employment Disputes Require Extensive Experience
Representation from an employment agreement attorney in Washington, D.C., extends well beyond reviewing documents. Rather than operating as a high-volume practice and routinely transferring clients between multiple attorneys, Seldon Bofinger intentionally remains smaller. This allows clients to work closely with experienced counsel throughout each stage of representation.
The firm also has substantial experience representing whistleblowers in highly technical industries. These cases frequently arise in the environment of complex regulatory systems alongside employment law. Seldon Bofinger may be able to help develop legal arguments that accurately advance your workplace issues and broader public interests.
Reach Out to a Washington, D.C. Employment Agreements Attorney Today
When employment agreements become intertwined with workplace disputes, experienced legal guidance can help protect both your professional future and your legal rights. Whether the issue involves contract interpretation, discrimination, harassment, wage violations, or retaliation, working with a Washington, D.C. employment agreements lawyer offers the strategic advocacy needed for complex employment matters.
Seldon Bofinger represents clients throughout the state and across the nation in their practice. Their decades of experience and hands-on approach emphasizes partnership with every client. Contact us today to discuss leaving your employer on your terms.