By agreeing to arbitrate, you give up certain rights while also gaining some benefits. For that reason, it's vital to understand the pros and cons ahead of time so that you can make an informed decision when you're asked to sign. Arbitration is a way of resolving a dispute without filing a lawsuit and going to court.
An employment arbitration agreement typically asks employees to agree that any disputes will be resolved through arbitration. It can be a standalone document, but it's most often part of a broader employment contract.
Arbitration is where you resolve differences in front of a private arbitrator rather than a lawsuit in a civil court. Arbitration agreements are typically found in your employment contract when you first get hired.
There are some benefits to arbitration if something goes wrong for you alone because it can be easier and faster to navigate than going to court. That being said, if you would prefer to have access to class action lawsuits, then opting out might be the better option for you.
If you continue to work after you are informed that a forced arbitration agreement governs your employment, you may be bound by it, even if you refuse to sign it. If you quit – or if you are fired for refusing to sign the “agreement”- you may not have any grounds to sue.
In Florida, arbitration agreements are governed by both state and federal laws. The Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) applies to interstate commerce contracts, while Florida's Arbitration Code outlines the rules for agreements not subject to the FAA.
Arbitration agreements require that persons who signed them resolve any disputes by binding arbitration, rather than in court before a judge and/or jury. What is binding arbitration? Binding arbitration involves the submission of a dispute to a neutral party who hears the case and makes a decision.
Arbitration is a dispute resolution process whereby a neutral third person or panel, called an arbitrator or arbitration panel, considers the facts and arguments presented by the parties and renders a decision, which may be binding or nonbinding. Fla. Stat. Section 44.1011.
A claimant will typically start arbitration by sending a document known as a “request for arbitration” or a “notice to arbitrate” to its opponent.
The Florida Supreme Court has clarified that, effective immediately, a sole or chief court-appointed arbitrator must be a Bar member in good standing for the past five years, unless the parties agree in writing to allow someone eligible to practice law in any U.S. jurisdiction during that time.