How binding is the Job contracts ?

I knew a guy who had signed on for a 5-year lease. And after two and a half years, he wasn't really getting the business he thought he should be getting, and I guess he was talking to some other people and he found a location downtown.

I kept telling him, dude, you can't just reneg on your deal, because they'll come after you for that. So anyway he renegs on the five year lease, of course the place comes after him, but I guess by that point he had lawyers and people to help him out etc etc etc.

I guess he's doing well for himself with his business. I don't really know. He wanted me to work for him, but I need health and dental benefits. And his job wouldn't have paid my bills so I wouldn't have been able to work for him as much as I would have liked to.

You'd be sacrificed to Hades then.

Depends on the laws in your country. I think the law in my country guarantees three month trial when either an employee or employer can end the contract without explanation. In this period you are not entitled to take a leave. After 3 months you must give one month notice before leaving. After a year of working it's two months.

Take a look at the contract. My last one was "at will." I can leave when they want and they could fire me when they want.

Some states are "at will" states. Meaning that you can leave at any time.

seems most contracts have some time build in before they are fully binding.

depending on the conditions and the loop holes. you always need a lawyer for contracts

Read the fine print

I was a government contractor, so in my case pretty binding, with some minor flexibility

depends on the contract

is there an early termination portion?

There's always a way out. You can find parts that a judge will say is too vague which would make the contract illegal