I work for an upstart e-commerce business wearing a multitude of hats. Not only do I webmaster the site, and maintain the computer system, but I also have a knack for selling and supporting our products (I have a background in our products as well). My employer hired me on at a lower rate than what I initially would have accepted since we both understood the new online venture was unclear of how well it would do, and that we would renegotiate my salary at a later time if/when the site succeeded. Well, one year later, the site is doing quite well, and has been in the black for well over four months. My employer has now presented me with a ?Proprietary Information Agreement? which I view more like an employment contract. I?m fine with the Prop Info clauses with it, but the terms of a NCA clause are quite strict. It states that I cannot work for ANY e-commerce business for one year after the end of my employment! My attorney translated this as my career being crippled to the point that I couldn?t work for (or begin) an e-commerce business ANYWHERE in the US (since the internet is nationwide as the contract explains). To make matters worse, the amount offered in the raise is negligible? at best. To ice the cake, the contract has zero room for future negotiations once it is put into effect. I feel somewhat insulted at how what was a mutual ?back-scratching? work situation is apparently becoming a one-way street which I?m not much more than an undervalued/underpaid grunt tasked with filling the employer?s pockets, and to not (in their eyes) expect to pay my own bills with only this income.
With hindsight being 20-20, I understand that I made a major mistake taking a lower beginning rate, even with the good intentions of helping the business get off the ground. Understandably I have to deal with what I have sown now, but I?m unsure what to do next. Being tied to the geographic area I?m in now, and web mastering jobs not being in abundance here, I?m afraid that I could be severely crippling my IT career in the future just to keep my job now. If anyone has experience with this situation, or even an idea of how to counter-offer the contract without risking my job, I would greatly appreciate the advice. Thank you for any input at all.