Be Informed.

There are strict rules for restraints on trade that can affect whether or not an employment contract, or specific clauses within that contract, are going to be enforceable or not. An attorney can help you to draft an agreement that will be enforced if you are an employer, and can provide assistance to employers in trying to enforce contract provisions.

One of the most important employment laws that an attorney provides assistance with is the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The Fair Labor Standards Act was enacted in 1938 to prohibit child labor, to establish a minimum wage, and to establish requirements for overtime.

Employment law lawyers can help companies to establish policies prohibiting harassment and protocols responding to harassment so they can reduce the chance that a lawsuit will happen. Attorneys also provide assistance to employees who have been victimized by harassing behavior and who wish to pursue a claim against an employer who is held liable for the unlawful workplace actions. 

Non-compete agreements are necessary across many industries to prevent employees from taking client information or trade secrets and using their knowledge to hurt the business of their former employer. However, a non-compete is also a restraint on trade and can impact the ability of an employee to make a living, so enforcement of these contracts is not always guaranteed.