Q: If I told my manager that I would sign an employment contract, do I need to sign it since that makes a contract?
My employer put out an employee contract for us to sign after I've been working for the company in a management position for months now. I didn't feel comfortable with signing it so I put it off for a few weeks. They kept bugging me over and over to sign it. I eventually said I'll get around to signing it. Eventually I broke and ended up putting in my two weeks and quitting without signing anything. Now they are contacting me after employment pressuring me to sign the employment contract. The first message they sent was that they would withhold my pay until I signed the contract. I told them that withholding pay was illegal. I re-assured them that I would not use any of their recipes and for them to leave me alone.
Now they are harassing me saying that I made a verbal contract to sign the contract, and in my management position I had access to sensitive information and I'm acting suspicious. They informed me that they have hired a lawyer.
A:
You are under no obligation to sign the contract. They could have fired you for not signing the contract, but that is/was their only recourse. What you offered was an illusory promise, " I will get around to signing it". In my opinion, they would spend a lot of money taking you to court in order for the Judge to compel you to sign something or to get an injunction against you for using any trade secrets.
I would advise, (not knowing the whole story which could change my opinion completely) to ignore them until they sue you.
Wes
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