Can my criminal record affect my eligibility for an occupational license?

A termination notice is a provision in an employment contract that specifies the amount of notice an employer must give an employee if they wish to terminate the contract, or vice versa if the employee wishes to leave. This is an important clause, as it offers some level of job security for the employee and some level of predictability for the employer. In most states, including North Carolina, employment is considered "at-will" unless there is a contract in place that states otherwise. This means that either the employer or the employee may terminate the employment relationship at any time, for any reason, or for no reason at all, as long as the reason isn't illegal (like discrimination). If your contract includes a termination notice clause, this "at-will" status is likely modified to some extent. The specific details would depend on the exact wording in your contract. It could require either party to provide a notice (often 2 weeks, 1 month, or sometimes longer) before terminating the contract. That notice period is intended to give the other party time to adjust plans accordingly. For the employee, it might mean finding a new job; for the employer, it might mean finding a replacement.

Position hierarchy may vary, as it is typically based on such factors as industry standards, company size, and internal policies. Before accepting an employment offer, a prospective employee should have a clear understanding of where the proposed position stands in the prospective employer's position hierarchy, as well as how the hierarchy affects the duties and responsibilities for that position. If the position hierarchy in a proposed employment contract or an employment offer letter is confusing, the prospective employee should seek clarification from the proposed employer.

In North Carolina, written employment agreements between medical groups and the physicians that they employ are standard. A reputable group will almost always present a proposed agreement to a prospective employee without being prompted. Sometimes, the proposed agreement is in the form of an "offer letter" that, once signed, will become the contract between the parties. Before signing any proposed agreement, a prospective employee should ensure that it accurately reflects what the parties have agreed to. It should include all of the agreed-upon terms and should be written clearly enough that an outside third party could interpret what the parties intended without seeking further explanation. Additionally, a prospective employee should pay close attention to contract clauses intended to have long-term effects, including but not limited to "restrictive covenants" such as non-disclosure, non-competition, or exclusivity provisions. Last, a prospective employee might consider having an attorney review a proposed employment agreement before signing. Good luck!

North Carolina is an at-will state, meaning that either party can terminate the work relationship at any time, as long as that termination is not done illegally...for instance, as the result of employment discrimination. If you have a contract with an employer, then you are bound by the terms of the contract. For instance, if the contract states that you must provide 30 days notice prior to termination, then if you don't provide the notice, you could be in breach of the contract. In regards to what must be in the agreement, the employer can't provide false or misleading information. If the employee is over 40, then the employer must provide at least 21 days for the employee to review the agreement under the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act.

There are two main types of Severance Agreements. One is signed at the beginning of an employment relationship and the other is signed at the end. When a Severance Agreement is signed at the beginning of an employment relationship, "severance" is what the employer promises to pay (above and beyond the employee's regular wages) when employment terminates i.e. when the parties "sever" ties. The sum of severance pay is typically calculated by how long the employee had been employed by the company at the time of separation. Before signing this type of Severance Agreement, a prospective employee should be sure that it clearly defines all the important terms and conditions. For example, the Severance Agreement may address how long the employee must be employed to become eligible for severance pay, how long after termination the severance pay will be paid, whether severance pay will be paid in a lump sum, and what could cause the employee to forfeit severance pay.