Breach of Contract Lawyer Columbus Ohio
Many jobs require employees to enter into employment contracts with the company. These employment contracts are binding and legally enforceable on both you and your employer.. In other words, the contract obligates both you and your employer to fulfill the provisions. When you fail to live up to your commitments, your employer has the right to discipline, demote, or terminate you.
On the other hand, when your employer fails to do what the employment contract requires, you could have grounds for filing a breach of contract lawsuit. Having a written and signed contract will help your case, but verbal agreements can also be legally binding. Consulting with a contract dispute attorney in Columbus will help you in understanding your rights and holding your employer to the terms of the contract.
Know What Your Employment Contract Entails
The details of each employment contract vary depending on the job and employer, but typical provisions include:
- The date on which you will start;
- Your classification as a full-time, part-time, or temporary employee, or as an independent contractor;
- Your starting position title and job responsibilities;
- Your hourly wage or annual salary, as well as the schedule on which you will be paid;
- Your employee benefits such as health insurance, pensions or retirement plan eligibility, and paid leave;
- A statement that the employer will own the patent, trademark, and/or copyright on any device, publication, or process you produce for the company;
- A nondisclosure agreement that prohibits sharing certain information about the employer, its business practices, and its products or projects with competitors and reporters;
- A noncompete clause that prevents you from taking the same or a similar position with a direct competitor of the employer;
- Specifics on when and how you or the employer may terminate the employment contract; and
- Details on how contract disputes will be resolved, such as mediation or arbitration.
Some employment contracts will also lay out the rules for calculating and awarding separation pay and severance. Ohio law requires each employer that operates in Ohio to issue workers a final paycheck within 30 days of the last day worked. Separation and severance agreements cover matters such as the continuation of health insurance benefits, cash settlements for unused paid leave, and permanent ownership of equipment issued by the employer.
If you are in a position to negotiate some or all of the terms of your employment contract, you should consider seeking advice from a Columbus employment attorney who will be able to review the document before you sign it. The decision to agree to any provisions will remain entirely yours, but the lawyer will be able to offer opinions on whether parts of the contract are unfair or do not comply with relevant employment laws.
Know What to Do When Your Employer Breaches Your Employment Contract
Ask for and retain a signed copy of your employment contract. Even if a working agreement begins informally, you have the right to request a written description of your role, which includes information about pay, benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment.
Refer to that document if your employer withholds paychecks, docks your pay, reduces benefits, disciplines you, or, most importantly, terminates you. Reach out to a Columbus breach of contract lawyer if you see conflicts between your employer’s conduct and what the contract stipulates.
You should also consult with a Columbus contract dispute attorney if your former employer attempts to enforce noncompete and nondisclosure agreements. Such provisions can make finding a new job difficult if you are ever let go or voluntarily decision to move on to take advantage of greater professional opportunities. Courts recognize how restrictive noncompete and nondisclosure agreements can be, and they tend to treat workers’ challenges to such agreements favorably.
You can request a free and confidential consultation with a contract dispute attorney by calling The Friedmann Firm at 614.610.9755. We also take appointments online. Based in Columbus, our employee rights lawyers are available to help workers throughout Ohio.
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