Fill and Sign the Three States May Restrict Use of Employment Noncompete Form

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT(With Covenant Not to Compete) This Employment Agreement (the "Agreement") is between ____ (the "Employer") and ____ (the "Employee") for services to be rendered by Employee to Employer. 1. Employment. Employer employs Employee to perform, and Employee accepts employment and agrees to perform, in the capacity of ____ , the duties and services c ustomarily associated with that position, and/or other duties and services as may be assigned by E mployer. Employee agrees to diligently and conscientiously devote his/her best efforts and time reasonably necessary to discharge his/her duties and responsibilities. 2. Compensation. For all services rendered by Employee, as provided for by the terms of this Agreement, Employer agrees to pay Employee at the initial rate of $____ (gross) per m onth. The compensation shall be deemed to be mutually agreeable to both parties if E mployer pays the compensation and the Employee accepts the compensation. Employer's obligation to m ake payments under this paragraph shall cease on termination of Employee's employment pursuant t o this Agreement, except as to Employer's obligations to make any payments that have accrued prior to the termination, but have not been paid. 3. Termination. This Agreement shall continue on a month-to-month basis following the thirtieth (30th) day subsequent to the date of its execution. To terminate this Agree ment, a party must notify the other party, in writing, of the desire to end the relationship one (1) month prior to the date of requested termination. Employer reserves the right to pay Employee one (1) m onth's salary in lieu of giving one (1) months' notice. When the notice of termination given by Employee is less than one (1) month, Employer is obligated to only to pay the pro rata portion of Employee's monthly salary equal to the notice given by Employee. In the event Employee gives no notice of termination, Employer has no obligation to make payments under this paragra ph. This paragraph and its provisions do not affect the obligations and rights of the parties which are contained in paragraphs 4., 5., and 6. Below. 4. Covenant not to compete. (a) Employee agrees and understands that Employer's business is highly competitive and Employer has invested considerable sums of money in developing products, formulas, training programs, sales programs, pricing, marketing formulas and programs, and account records for the proper servicing of its customers. (b) Employee acknowledges that in the course of (his/her) employment (he/she) will have access to and will be entrusted with one or more of the following categories of confi dential information and trade secrets: (1) Information relating to Employer's business which will be obtained by the Employee in the course of his/her duties; (2) Information regarding Employer's formulas; (3) Information regarding the type and identity of processes used by Employer; (4) Information regarding the products used by Employer; (5) Employer's sources of supply for its products; (6) The names and addresses of Employer's customers; (7) Information regarding the tastes, requirements and/or preferences of Employer customers; (8) Information regarding the manner, method and/or means of pricing, marketing, and merchandising used by Employer; and, (9) Information regarding the marketing techniques used by Employer. (c) Additionally the Employee acknowledges, understands, and agrees that while employed by Employer, (he/she) will receive extensive specialized training and knowledge under Employer's programs and will be entrusted with valuable information in Employer's account records. (d) Employee agrees that this offer of employment, the specialized training, knowledge of Employer's sales techniques, and marketing programs, as well as other confidential information and trade secrets (generally outlined in sections 4.(a), (b), and (c) above) constitutes good, sufficient, and adequate consideration for the following: (1) The Employee agrees that (he/she) will not, for a period of one (1) year from the effective date of (his/her) termination of employment from Employer, compete with Employer in any manner or form, including, but not limited to the capacities of Employee, consultant, owner, investor, stockholder, partner, and/or independent contractor for a business similar in nature to Employer. Additionally, Employee agrees not to personally, by agent, or by letters, circulars, or advertisements, whether on (his/her) behalf or on behalf of any other persons, canvass, solicit, or do business of a similar nature to Employer with any persons and/or businesses. (2) The geographical scope of this covenant shall be the geographic territory or territories serviced by Employer during the one (1) year period of time immediately prec eding the Employee's effective date of termination. (e) This covenant is a separate agreement within this Agreement and stands alone in its obligation to be performed by the Employee. The Employee further agrees and understa nds that this covenant is necessary for the protection of Employer due to its legiti mate interest in protecting its business goodwill and trade secrets. The Employee further agrees and understands that, because of the legitimate interest of Employer in protecting its business goodwi ll and trade secrets as well as the extensive specialized training and knowledge received by the Employee from Employer, the restrictions enumerated in 4.(d)(1) and (2) are not oppressive and are, in fact, reasonable. Employee also agrees and understands that, due to the necessity of this covena nt and the adequate consideration supporting it, this covenant does not prevent competition, in fa ct it encourages Employer to entrust Employee with confidential information. (f) Employee agrees that in the event (he/she) breaches this covenant (he/she) will submit to the rendition of a temporary restraining order, without prior notice, and then to a temporary and permanent injunction. Employee agrees to the jurisdiction of an appropriate state court in ____ county, ____, for the enforcement of this covenant. 5. Confidentiality. (a) Employee agrees and understands that in (his/her) position of employment, (he/she) will be exposed to confidential information and trade secrets ("proprietary information") pertaining to, or arising from, the business of Employer. Employee acknowledges the proprietary information is unique and invaluable to Employer's business and that Employer would suffer irreparable injury if this information were divulged to those in competition with it. Employee agrees to keep in strict secrecy and confidence, both during and after the pe riod of employment, any and all information which is acquired or to which Employee has access during employment by Employer that has not been publicly disclosed by Employer or that is not a matter of common knowledge by Employer's competitors. The proprietary information covered by this paragraph shall include, but not be limited to, information relating to any proce sses, formulas, plans, devices, compilations of information, technical data, mailing lists, distribution methods, names of suppliers and customers, arrangements entered into with suppliers and customers, including, but not limited to, marketing strategies and trade secrets of Employer. (b) Employee agrees that during and after (his/her) employment with Employer except with the prior written approval of Employer, Employee will not (i) directly or indi rectly disclose any proprietary information to any person except authorized personnel of Employer or, (ii) use proprietary information in any way. 6. Return of Confidential Information. All patterns, samples, and copies of confidential information, including, without limitation, notes, reports, lists, correspondence, memoranda, plans, formulas and processes pertaining to the business of Employer, prepared or obtained by the Employee during (his/her) employment shall at all times be the property of Employe r and the Employee shall deliver all of them to Employer at any time upon request of Employer, and in any event shall deliver them to Employer upon the termination of his/her employment whe ther or not requested to do so. 7. Conflict of Interest. Employee agrees that during the period of (his/her) employment (he/she) will not engage in any activity, of any kind, which conflicts with the inte rest of Employer or with (his/her) duties as an Employee. Employee will not initiate or engage in any business, research, or other activity which is identical, or similar, to that which (he/she) is performing for Employer, nor will Employee directly or indirectly serve, advise, or be employed by any individual, firm or company, engaged in this same or a similar line of business a s that carried on by Employer. 8. Rules, Regulations and Policies. Employee expressly agrees to follow and abide by all instructions, directions, rules, regulations, and/or policies pertaining to employees of Employer whether written or unwritten. This includes, but is not limited to, all rules, regulations and/or policies found in Employer's Employee handbook. From time-to-time the handbook, policies, instructions, directions, rules, and/or regulations of Employer may change or be modified unilaterally with or without notice by Employer. Failure to follow and abide by the instructions, directions, rules, regulations, and/or policies of Employer may result in disciplinary act ion up to and including termination of the employment relationship. 9. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the partie s with regard to the subject matter. Employee represents and warrants that (he/she) has read t his Agreement, has had the opportunity to consult with an attorney regarding this Agreement, and it is entered into voluntarily and with full knowledge and understanding of its terms and effects. 10. Severability. To the extent any portion of this Agreement is deemed to be contra ry to any applicable law by a court of last resort, the remaining portions of this Agreement shall be, and continue to be, in full force and effect as if the voided portion were never a part of t his Agreement. 11. Headings. The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement are included for the purpose of convenience only and do not affect the construction or interpretation of any of its provisions. 12. Interpretation. This Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with, and governe d by, the laws of the state of ____ , and all actions or causes of action brought to enforce or interpret the agreement shall be in the appropriate state court in ____ County, ____ . 13. Assignability. This Agreement shall be binding on and inure to the benefit of the partie s and their respective successors, heirs, executors, administrators and permitted assigns. 14. Violation. The failure of any party to seek redress for violation of or to insist upon the strict performance of any covenant or condition of this Agreement shall not prevent a subsequent act, which would have originally constituted a violation, from having the effect of an original violation. The rights and remedies provided by this Agreement are cumulative and the use of any one right or remedy by any party shall not preclude or waive the right to use any or all other remedies. These rights and remedies are given in addition to any other rights or reme dies the parties may have by law, statute, ordinance or otherwise. 15. No Waiver. No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived, or discharged unless the waiver, modification, or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by ea ch of the parties. No waiver by any party, at any time, of any breach of either party of, or complia nce with, any conditional provision of this Agreement to be performed by the other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions of the same or at any prior or subsequent time. This Agreement is executed and deemed effective as of ____.Employer Employee