| (a) | Both the Company and Employee hereby agree that any claim, dispute, and/or controversy that Employee may have against the Company (or its owners, directors, officers, managers, employees, agents, insurers and parties affiliated with its employee benefit and health plans), or that the Company may have against Employee, arising from, related to, or having any relationship or connection whatsoever to the Employment, shall be submitted to and determined exclusively by binding arbitration under the Federal Arbitration Act (9 U.S.C. §§ l, et seq.) in conformity with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, in a location within 50 miles of where Employee is based. Included within the scope of this Agreement are all disputes including, but not limited to, any claims alleging employment discrimination, harassment, hostile environment, retaliation, whistleblower protection, wrongful discharge, constructive discharge, failure to grant leave, failure to reinstate, failure to accommodate, tortious conduct, breach of contract, and/or any other claims Employee may have against the Company for any exemption misclassification, unpaid wages or overtime pay, benefits, payments, bonuses, commissions, vacation pay, leave pay, workforce reduction payments, costs or expenses, emotional distress, pain and suffering, or other alleged damages arising out of the Employment or termination. Also included are any claims based on or arising under Title VII, 42 USC Section 1981, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, Sarbanes-Oxley, all as amended, or any other state or federal law or regulation, equitable law, or otherwise relating in any way to the employment relationship. |