Non-Competition agreement in Florida
 

Hello my friends. About 6 months ago, I took a job with an Air Ambulance company in Florida, flying as PIC in Lears. It has been an "ok" job with an "ok" salary, home every night and only fly maybe every other day unless on a hard day off. Out of the blue the managment has come up with a non-competition agreement that I am sure will be a "sign or else" scenario. Does anyone have experience with Non-competition in Florida? From what I can see, it follows the guidlines outlined in Florida law governing such agreements but 2 things that irk me is that conditions are effective for up to 2 years after leaving the company and involve the whole United States as well as the Islands and South America. Also it calls for waiving my rights to jury trial and arbitration. I know that if I don't sign it they will terminate me. Anyone have any advice? Anyone know of a Lear job available?? :) Looks like I will soon be unemployed.

Wow, thats a bit extreme. JetSelect Management is in Boca and I know they operate Lears and Challenges. Look them up.

Seems very extreme. Not sure how they could enforce it. If your only livelihood is through flying, they cannot keep you from it. If you know a good lawyer,I would be asking them.

Agreed...get to a lawyer if you want advice, don't ask on an Internet message board full of pilots, not lawyers.

If they're asking for that...might get back in the job hunt.

Non-compete agreements are almost always voided by the courts for two reasons, too long (over one year) and two broad (the entire country would fit that category, not to mention extra territorial) it's law school 101 stuff.

I would tell them to stuff it and watch them panic, if all of your pilots do it together, they will back off.

My advise, talk to a labor and/or contract attorney.

There is no such thing as "or else". They will keep you until its time for a checkride or SimSchool and then the topic will come up again. They want you to understand that they have a vested interest in you, and they are trying to tell you that by making you sign something. Ussually a discussion and a handshake can get this done in small companies. Try a discussion before you "lawyer up".
I have found that once an employee is not happy, it is time for them to move on. Pilots have direct contact with our customers and can sour a passenger much faster then bad catering

Unfortunately, there are always one or two weasels ... not to mention hundreds who will drop right in your seat if you vacate it. While I don't know the small details of your situation, of course, including (and I mean nothing personal) your own performance / deportment - which may be a factor here - I'd be inclined to lawyer up. Even if you try the discussion and handshake approach mentioned above (and this is the best way, if possible), forewarned is forearmed. An attorney can tell you if you have any recourse (and what to indicate to your bosses verbally, if anything) as well as if your employer has ammo or blanks.

My G_d, are there any operations anywhere in the U. S. that aren't run by a bunch of greedy incompetent jerks? :(

(It's rhetorical. Don't bother answering, I already know).

I agree with the earlier post, the whole country is way too broad. That would get tossed out in court. Also, a contract requires compensation to be valid. What are they giving you in order to get you to sign? Should be a contract for services for at least as long as the non-compete clause!

Even training agreements can be voided in courts. I don't see how they can enforce this since you're already employed by them. Crazier things have happened I guess.

I doubt the company would spend the money to sue you in another state.