Q: I live in CA. I repair appliances. I signed non compete agreement to work with new company. Is it enforced if i quit
I learned applince repair at a company. After it closed, i applied to work for different company. To further my knowledge about repairing refrigerators. In the old company i just repaird appliances, not refrigerators. To repair refirgrators you need special training form certified techs. When i told this to the company owner, he made me sign a non a competitive agreement for 6 month for providing me with training. We agreed on a rate of payment for when i start to repair refrigerator on my own after training. But now he is making excuses about my work pace and about how slow i am am. He is trying to find reasons not to pay me. Is this agreemen legit or not? I am looking to move to different company if things dont go the way we agreed. To learn more and make the proper rate for my services. The info about the pay rate is not in the agreement but when we talked he told me and agreed and i agreed with him.
A: You should have a consultation with a local employment lawyer. Many offer initial consultations for free. The lawyer is likely to explain that the non compete agreement is not going to be enforceable, and you probably should have been paid during "training".
David Keith Hicks agrees with this answer
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A: Such agreements are against public policy and unlawful in California; however, don't think you can't be sued for making off with tradesecrets. such might include customer lists and other things unique to that company. Did you sign a trade secret agreement too?
1 user found this answer helpful
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