Upload your job offer or employment agreement. Madeplain highlights what matters—compensation, non-competes, termination clauses—and gives you the right questions to ask before you sign.
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What you'll get
8-section breakdown
Clear structure
Smart questions
Know what to ask
Email draft
Ready to send
"At-will employment" and "material breach" sound important but what do they actually mean for you?
Buried restrictions on where you can work next could limit your career for years.
What counts as "cause" for termination? What notice period applies? These matter when things go wrong.
Stock options, vesting schedules, and bonus structures often have conditions that aren't obvious.
Does your employer own everything you create—even side projects on your own time?
Non-disclosure clauses can affect what you can discuss long after you leave.
See exactly what restrictions apply to your next job—duration, geography, and scope made clear.
Probation periods, vesting schedules, and notice requirements laid out in plain terms.
Understand what you're agreeing to—IP assignments, exclusivity, and confidentiality limits.
Get a polite email asking the right questions before you sign—without sounding difficult.
Here's what a confusing clause looks like—and what it looks like after Madeplain: a clear summary, hidden risks, the right questions, and an email draft.
Example uses dummy data.
Employment Agreement - Non-Compete & Termination Clauses
Structured explanation, hidden risks highlighted, and clear next steps.
Legal jargon, vague competitor definitions, and broad IP claims make this harder to understand than necessary.
This is an employment agreement that covers non-compete restrictions, at-will employment terms, and intellectual property ownership. It defines what happens when you leave and what you can't do afterward.
The IP clause covers work 'outside of normal business hours'—this could include side projects, personal apps, or anything you build at home. If you have a startup idea or freelance, this could be a problem.
“All inventions, discoveries, and work product created during the term of employment shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Company, including any work performed outside of normal business hours.”
Translation: Everything you create while employed belongs to them—even if you built it at home on weekends using your own equipment.
The standard confidentiality provisions are typical. The arbitration clause is standard boilerplate. Benefits enrollment deadlines are handled separately by HR.
Q1: Can side projects or personal work be excluded from the IP clause?
Why it matters: Many companies will carve out exceptions for unrelated personal projects.
Q2: What specific businesses count as 'competitors' for the non-compete?
Why it matters: Vague definitions could block you from more companies than you'd expect.
Q3: Would the non-compete be waived if I'm laid off?
Why it matters: Being let go shouldn't limit your ability to find new work in your field.
Q4: Is severance offered if the company terminates without cause?
Why it matters: At-will goes both ways, but you should know what you'd get if they end it.
Try it with your own document — no account required.
Madeplain gives you a ready-to-send email that asks the important questions professionally. Choose your tone—neutral for formal HR departments, friendly for startups, direct when you need fast answers.
Subject: Questions about my employment agreement Hello, I'm reviewing my employment agreement and have a few questions before signing: 1. Can personal side projects unrelated to company business be excluded from the IP assignment clause? 2. What specific companies or industries are considered "competitors" under the non-compete? 3. Would the non-compete restriction be waived in the event of a layoff or termination without cause? 4. What severance, if any, is offered if employment is terminated by the company without cause? I'd appreciate clarification on these points. Best regards
Upload your employment contract and get a clear breakdown, the questions to ask, and a follow-up email draft—no account required to start.