Protecting Employees Against Unfair Employment Contracts

An employment contract forms the legal foundation of your relationship with your employer. Many times employers are not aware that the contracts they provide may not be compliant with the law or are unfair.

Unfair contracts can cause many disputes between the employer and employee.

In high-level and customized jobs, it is critical to review any proposed employment contract, or changes thereto, with an employment lawyer to make sure the terms are legally binding and reasonable.

Employment Contract Reviews

Before signing any new employment agreement, it is critical to understand all legal obligations within and around it. YLaw helps clients:

• Negotiate better and more reasonable terms for their contracts
• Ensure the contracts are compliant with the Employment Standards Act and common law principles
• Do not violate an employee’s rights
• Analyze compensation, bonus structures, stock options, and benefits
• Interpret and negotiate confidentiality, intellectual property, and data protection obligations

Our goal is to identify unclear, one-sided, or unenforceable terms and negotiate improvements before disputes arise.

Non-Compete Agreements

A non-compete clause seeks to restrict your ability to work for a competitor or start a competing business after leaving your employer. In British Columbia, courts scrutinize these clauses carefully and can easily invalidate them. These agreements must be:

• Reasonable in geographic scope
• Limited in duration
• Narrowly tailored to protect legitimate business interests

YLaw advises employees on whether a non-compete agreement is likely enforceable.

We challenge overreaching clauses and protect clients from unnecessary career restrictions.

Non-Solicitation Agreements

Non-solicitation agreements are meant to prevent departing employees from contacting former clients, customers, or colleagues to solicit business. These clauses must still be fair and reasonable.

Our employment lawyers can:

• Interpret whether a non-solicitation clause applies
• Assess whether the scope is overly broad or ambiguous
• Represent you if your former employer advances a claim against you

Fixed-Term and Independent Contractor Agreements

Employees hired on a fixed-term basis or independent contractors have unique legal rights and considerations . YLaw provides advice on:

• Whether you are properly classified as an independent contractor or employee regardless of what your contract says.
• Risks associated with early termination of fixed-term contracts
• Pursuing compensation if you are misclassified or terminated improperly

Common Contract Disputes We Handle

YLaw regularly represents employees in disputes involving:

• Breach of employment contracts
• Wrongful termination under an existing agreement
• Enforceability of restrictive covenants
• Disputes over fixed term or independent contractor agreements
• Disputes over incentive plans, bonuses, or deferred compensation

We understand the leverage and risks involved in contract negotiations and use that knowledge to position our clients for success.

Contact YLaw for Employment Contract and Restrictive Covenant Advice

Do not sign any employment contract, non-compete, or non-solicitation agreement without legal advice. YLaw’s experienced Vancouver employment lawyers will help protect your career and legal rights.

Contact YLaw’s Employment Lawyers