Because Nevada is an “at-will” employment state under the law, employment contracts are not required in many situations. However, if you are hired for certain jobs, the company may require you to sign a contract that includes the various terms of your employment, including your rights and responsibilities.
Employment contracts can have a significant impact on your employment for as long as you are employed and even after that employment relationship ends. Therefore, these agreements should be carefully reviewed and considered before you sign them. The skilled employment contracts lawyers at HKM Employment Attorneys can review an agreement, negotiate different terms if necessary, and advise you of the implications of a particular agreement. Call today if you need assistance with contract review.
Is Your Employment “At-Will”?
Simply because you sign an employment contract does not mean that your employment is not at-will. In fact, many employers that require contracts will specifically state that the employment relationship is at-will in the agreement. It is important that you understand your employment status and the implications of such.
At-will employment means that either you or your employer may end the relationship at any time – even without a specific reason. You can quit simply because you want a different job and your employer can let you go without alleging that you engaged in any misconduct.
Other employment contracts specify that either party can only terminate the relationship after a certain time or for specific reasons. If you sign this type of contract, you should understand that you may face liability if you try to leave the job before the contract term expires.
Common Terms in an Employment Contract
At-will employment is only one thing to look for in an employment contract. Some other common terms that may be included are as follows:
- Your job duties and responsibilities;
- Information about compensation and benefits;
- Nondisclosure agreements and trade secret protections;
- Non-compete clauses;
- If the company retains ownership of any of the employee’s creations or research;
- How an employee must resolve a legal dispute regarding breach of contract – such as arbitration instead of litigation.
As you can see, there are many important terms that may be included in an employment contract and you want to be sure you understand the full contents of the contract before you sign.
Find Out How Our Las Vegas Employment Contracts Lawyers Can Help
Employment contracts can have a wide variety of terms and can often be drafted without the assistance of a legal professional. This means there is always a risk of there being unfair or unreasonable terms included in the contract or that the contract may not sufficiently protect your rights. Anytime you are presented with an employment contract, it is wise to have a highly skilled employment contracts attorney thoroughly review the contract to ensure it is in your best interests. An attorney can also help you negotiate more favorable terms when needed. If you are considering employment that requires a contract, first call HKM Employment Attorneys in Las Vegas for assistance at 702-625-3893.
