Brundage Law P.A.

Business Lawyers For Business People

2 reasons you may need to pursue legal action against an employee

On Behalf of | Mar 23, 2023 | Business Litigation |

As a business owner, you need to be alert to problems from a wide range of sources. One of those that can hurt the most is when someone you employed betrays your trust.

These cases can be devastating for company morale, reputation and finances because it is likely that some people will believe the employee acted appropriately and it’s you that’s in the wrong.

Here are just some of the reasons you may need to consider legal action to deal with one of your employees or ex-employees:

They took your intellectual property

Differences between competitors can be slim, so you need to protect those things that give you an advantage. The law allows you to protect ideas, designs and more. If an employee uses them to set up their own company or sells them to a rival, you need to act fast. Remember, the internet means information can soon spread across the world, and people in other states or countries may be able to undercut you vastly if they receive your know-how.

They went to work for a competitor or set up in competition themselves

Non-compete agreements allow employers to prevent employees from using the knowledge and skills they gained with the company in a way that harms the company. If you wish to use them, you need to ensure they are narrowly limited in their scope. A blanket ban on employees moving on to do anything vaguely related to their role will not stand up in court.

Whether seeking to create contracts that protect your business or needing to deal with an employee who has breached a contract, there is legal help available.