Restrictive Covenant For Contract Work In Virginia
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There may be terms in your contract that says you can't work for a competitor or have contact with customers for a period of time after you leave the company. These are called 'restrictive covenants'. Your company could take you to court if you breach the restrictive covenants in your contract.
Yes. Employment contracts are enforceable in Virginia as long as they abide by all applicable contract laws. Laws governing contracts require that an enforceable contract have an offer, acceptance, and consideration.
Chapter 2 – How to Beat Your Virginia Non-Compete Get a copy of the agreement. Have an attorney review the agreement. Don't plan your new business at work! ... Do not advertise your new business until you know your non-compete agreement is not an issue. Be Honest. Seek legal action to determine validity of the agreement.
Restrictive covenants in employment agreements (like non-compete and non-soliciation provisions) are disfavored in Virginia and only enforced when narrowly crafted so that the restrictions are no broader than necessary to protect the employer's legitimate business interests.
Take a non-competitive job or role outside your current employer's specialty. Prove your employer breached the contract to invalidate the non-compete clause. Argue that the non-compete is overly restrictive or not enforceable. Negotiate or prove no legitimate business interests exist to uphold the agreement.
In Virginia, non-compete and non-solicitation agreements are enforceable only if they are narrowly drawn to protect the employer's legitimate business interests, are not unduly burdensome on the employee's ability to earn a living, and are not against public policy.
As a reminder, Virginia is one of eleven states (along with Washington, D.C.) that imposes restrictions on the use of non-compete agreements for so-called “low wage employees.” Effective now in 2025, the salary threshold defining a “low wage employee” in Virginia has increased from $73,320 to $76,081 annually.
In Virginia, non-compete agreements are enforceable if an employer can show: the restriction is “no greater than is necessary to protect the employer's legitimate business interest”; the agreement is not excessively severe or oppressive in restricting the employee's ability to find another job or make an income; and.
Employers often include in employment contracts what are referred to as “restrictive covenants.” This term is generally used to describe two main types of contractual clause: the non-solicitation clause and the non-compete clause.
In the United States, employers generally use four types of restrictive covenants: (1) covenants not to compete for a certain period of time following the employee's termination from employment (or following a business transaction such as a sale, merger, etc.); (2) covenants not to solicit customers or clients for a ...
