My previous employer is giving me nasty references. What can I do?

When you leave a job or are fired, your previous employer may generally disclose any information about your past performance as long as the information is true. Your previous employer cannot, however, make statements that are false or defamatory. If this happens, you may be able to file a lawsuit for defamation of character.

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Can an employer require me to take a polygraph test before hiring?

Filling out an application, giving reliable references, and interviewing with hiring personnel are all standard components of a job search. But what if your potential employer also asked you to take a polygraph test? Whether or not you will have to take a lie detector test depends on federal laws and your states regulations.

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What questions are illegal in a job application?

Click for a detailed discussion of what employers can and cannot include in the application process. Generally, age is considered not to be relevant in most hiring decisions, and therefore, date-of-birth questions are improper. Both employers and employees should be aware that age is a very sensitive pre-employment question. As such, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act protects employees 40 years of age and above.

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Enforceability of Non-Compete Work Agreements

If an employee signs a non-compete work agreement, he or she can be held to its terms, at least up to a limit. Non-competition agreements are only enforceable to the extent they are reasonable in both geographic scope and time duration. Unreasonable agreements will either not be enforced or will reduced by the courts to a more reasonable level if challenged (called “blue penciling”).

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