Employment Lawyers for Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

I would look into a good HR software package.

Settlement agreements can contain any provisions that the parties are willing to agree to provided that those provisions are not illegal or against public policy. There are also safe guards that can be included in the language of the agreement so that legally enforceable terms are undisturbed even if part of the agreement may be found to be invalid.

The short answer is that they probably can. Colorado is an at-will employment state, meaning your employer can generally change the terms of your employment, including your termination date, at any time and for any lawful reason. Since the agreement is marked "draft" and hasn't been signed by either party, there is no binding contract locking in that May end date. That said, this is the general rule. If you have an employment agreement, offer letter, or other written documentation that guarantees a specific termination date or notice period, that could change the analysis. You would want to review any such documents carefully to confirm whether your employer has already committed to specific terms. There are also some important protections worth knowing about in this context: If you are 40 years of age or older and the severance agreement asks you to waive age discrimination claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), your employer must comply with the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act (OWBPA). Among other things, the OWBPA requires that you be given at least 21 days to review and consider the agreement before signing, or 45 days if you are being terminated as part of a group layoff or reduction in force. You also get a 7-day revocation period after signing during which you can change your mind. Here is the part that may relate to your question: if your employer makes a material change to the agreement, such as moving up your termination date, the review period starts over. So even if you have been sitting with the draft for a couple of weeks, a revised version with a new termination date would likely give you a fresh 21 or 45 day window to consider the updated terms. ***This response is for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. For advice specific to your situation, please consult a qualified attorney.***

When you’re hiring an employee who will have access to sensitive business information, a well-drafted Confidential Information Release Agreement (often structured as a Non-Disclosure Agreement or NDA) is one of the strongest safeguards you can put in place. The enforceability of the agreement depends on how precisely it’s written, so each section should be thought through carefully. Definition of Confidential Information The agreement needs a definition that’s broad enough to cover your key assets but specific enough that a court will enforce it. A good approach is to use examples followed by a catch-all phrase. For example, you might list customer lists, financial records, pricing models, marketing plans, source code, prototypes, supplier agreements, and employee data, and then add a general clause covering “any other information, whether written, oral, or electronic, that is not generally known to the public and provides the company with a competitive advantage.” Many agreements also provide that information is confidential if it’s marked as such or if a reasonable person would recognize it as confidential under the circumstances. Employee Obligations The employee’s duties should be spelled out in plain terms. They must not disclose the information to anyone outside the company without written approval. They should only use the information as needed to perform their job and for the benefit of the company. They also need to take reasonable precautions to protect the information, such as safeguarding passwords, not discussing matters in public places, and securing documents just as they would their own personal records. Exclusions from Confidentiality An agreement that doesn’t carve out reasonable exclusions is more likely to be struck down. Standard exceptions include information that is already public, information the employee had before joining the company, information developed independently without relying on the company’s resources, information legitimately obtained from another source, and disclosures that are required by law or court order. If disclosure is legally required, the employee should be obligated to give the company prompt notice so it has a chance to intervene. Duration of Obligation The confidentiality period depends on the nature of the information. For trade secrets, the obligation should last as long as the information qualifies as a trade secret. For other sensitive but non-secret information, it’s common to set a post-employment period of two to five years. Courts tend to find these durations reasonable. Return or Destruction of Information When employment ends, the agreement should require the employee to return or destroy all materials containing confidential information, whether in paper or digital form. It’s also wise to require the employee to confirm in writing that they’ve returned or deleted all copies, including notes and stored electronic files. Remedies for Breach To protect your position in the event of a violation, include provisions for injunctive relief, damages, and attorney’s fees. Injunctive relief allows you to seek a court order stopping the misuse immediately, without waiting for a damages trial. Attorney’s fee provisions are enforceable in many jurisdictions and can deter breaches, though you’ll want to confirm enforceability under your state’s law. Whistleblower Immunity Notice Federal law requires that you include specific language from the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016. This notice protects employees from liability if they disclose a trade secret in confidence to a government official or attorney for the purpose of reporting or investigating suspected legal violations. If you leave this out, you lose the ability to seek exemplary damages or attorney’s fees in a federal trade secret case against that employee. General Provisions Rounding out the agreement with standard contract clauses improves enforceability. Common provisions include governing law (which state’s law applies), severability (invalidating one clause doesn’t void the entire agreement), no waiver (failure to enforce once doesn’t waive rights later), and entire agreement (confirming that the NDA overrides prior understandings about confidentiality). Get Professional Help Protecting Your Business Protecting confidential information is vital when hiring new employees, and the strength of your agreement depends on getting the details right. The business attorneys on Contracts Counsel are available to draft, review, and tailor your confidentiality agreement so it’s enforceable in your state and aligned with your company’s needs.

Employee Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) can indeed impact your ability to share certain information, but their scope and enforceability can be complex: 1. Purpose of NDAs: Typically protect confidential business information, not personal experiences. 2. Scope: The specific language in your NDA determines what information is covered. 3. Public interest: Some courts may not enforce NDAs that conceal illegal or unethical practices. 4. Whistleblower protections: Certain laws may protect disclosures of wrongdoing. 5. Defamation risks: Even without an NDA, false statements could lead to legal issues. However, the specifics of your situation require careful analysis: - The exact terms of your NDA - Nature of the information you want to share - Applicable state and federal laws - Potential risks and consequences Given the complexities and potential legal implications, it would be prudent to have a legal professional review your specific NDA and circumstances. As an experienced employment law attorney, I could: 1. Analyze your NDA's terms and enforceability 2. Advise on your rights and potential risks 3. Explore legal options for addressing your concerns 4. Guide you on how to proceed safely Would you like to discuss your situation in detail and explore your options for sharing your experiences while minimizing legal risks?