Can my boss make me give a 3 month notice?

I have been working with this company for almost 3 years now. I have not gotten any sort of a raise. I had signed a contract to give 3 months notice or I would have to pay $4,000. There weren't any witnesses to this contract and it was not notarized. Can this company legally hold me to a money contract without a witness? They also wouldn't let me bring the contract home to have a lawyer look it over before I signed it. I was told to look at it in the office and sign it or I wouldn't have gotten the job. Is there anything I can do to get out of this?
Additional Details
I would love to take the contract to someone to have it looked at and find a way out of it, but I am unable to do so because we I not allowed to have copies of it. It was handed to me immediately after the interview and I was told to sign it or not work for the company. I have not seen it since and after 3 years I cannot fully remember what it said.

chomu

A contract that you cannot negotiate, or have reviewed by an attorney, or even take home to think over isn't much of an agreement. A deal with so little power given to one of the parties is often termed an adhesion contract, and is likely unenforceable. When you plan on quitting, consider talking to an attorney about your options.

Judy

Well, go to your employer and tell them that this contract is still bothering you.
Sometimes when you get hired through someone there is a 15% fee that someone has to pay. Sounds like your company paid it. BUT... after 1 year there should be no contract.

Ex: I was hired. I had to sign a contract stating that if I quit, I would have to pay the 15% fee to my "headhunter agency". My husband also signed a similar contract and they added the moving costs, but after one year its "null and void".

I bet you your contract is only good for one year. I bet you. Go talk to them. If they can't find that old contract, get them to write in a piece of paper that you don't owe that agency fee. Get them to sign and date it. And you're done. Tell them thank you, and that now you will sleep much better.

I know this isn't exactly your situation... then again it might be.

silver22553

First, you signed the contract. If a judge asked "did you agree to this and did you sign it" - so consider it legal. However, it would be very difficult to enforce as most judges would consider it "unreasonable" after three years. The real problem" If you just quit, they will give you a bad reference. If you give the 90 day notice, what are you missing? Sometimes doing the right thing takes longer, but doesn't haunt us for 50 years.

If it was "Me". I give them a resignation letter requesting a departure date of (fill-in-blank). You know, It never hurts to send a warm letter. Telling them how happy you have been being a part of an important team. That your experience gained here have allowed you to obtain an exception opportunity. After all, you are trying to get what YOU want.

drusillaslittleboot

If they wouldn't let you take it home, it would be unenforceable (in my jurisdiction) - there is plenty of jurisprudence where I live that employers have to give employees time to get expert opinion on an employment contract, if the 'future employee' will be giving up rights.

What would be difficult would be to prove that you were under pressure to sign and were not given the opportunity to consult a lawyer. Have others at the company had similar experiences?

leysarob

If you signed it, it's a legitimate contract. However, take it to an attorney and see if he/she can get you out of it. It's not a reasonable request for someone who doesn't have a full employment contract.

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