Enforcing a No Compete Clause / Unpaid Bonus

I was offered and accepted a position in which I was given a signed agreement letter that promised me a set salary and benefits package. In return, 9 days later I agreed to sign a "Covenant Not to Compete Promise". After only 3.5 months with the company, the president of the company revised a mandatory employment contract that cut my total benefits package by 27%. I either signed the agreement or he would consider my refusal to sign as a resignation. I offered to come to work the next but that I did not wish to sign the mandatory contract. The president informed me that if I did not sign the revised contract by the deadline date that I would be banished from the properties and that any work done after the deadline date would not be be paid. Do I have to honor the "No Compete Clause" since the basis for me signing such was what the company promised to pay me? The company still owed me money for my sign-on bonus, am I still entitled to receive it? Would this be a situation where I was "Constructively Discharged?

1 answer  |  asked Nov 2, 2005 11:35 AM [EST]  |  applies to Texas

Answers (1)

Margaret A. Harris
Nothing "Constructive" About It

The term "constructively discharged" means that the employer made your working conditions so horrific that you quit, and any reasonable person in your situation would have quit. You were simply fired.

You need to take the two documents to a lawyer who regularly represents employees and get some legal advice based on the contents of the two documents you signed. It may cost you a couple hundred dollars, but it's an investment that could pay off for you.

posted by Margaret A. Harris  |  Nov 2, 2005 1:10 PM [EST]

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