Legal Question in Business Law in Connecticut

An employee who signs an arbitration agreement gives up their right to sue in court over job-related issues such as wrongful termination, breach of contract, and discrimination. Instead, the employee must pursue any legal claims against the employer through arbitration, rather than through a lawsuit. Arbitration differs from a court case in several ways: the case is heard and decided by an arbitrator, there are limits to the amount of information each side must provide to each other, and the decision cannot be appealed. That being said, you always have the option to refuse to sign an arbitration agreement if you do not agree with it. An employer can fire an at-will employee who refuses to sign one, so this option may jeopardize your employment. Another option might be to agree to sign, but only if you can negotiate an agreement that is fair to you. In this case, because you are so hesitant to sign the agreement, this might be your best option. If you choose to negotiate with your employer it would be helpful to consult an experienced attorney who can negotiate for the fairest agreement possible. Even if you do not choose to negotiate, it might still be beneficial to have an attorney review the arbitration agreement before you sign it.

If you have any further questions regarding arbitration and employment law in Connecticut, please contact Joseph C. Maya, Esq. at (203) 221-3100 or e-mail him directly at [email protected].