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Lawyers Advice On Employment Contracts
Lawyers Advice On Employment Contracts
Lawyers Advice On Employment Contracts
to Contracts of Employment
Introduction
Welcome to the Definitive Employer’s Guide
to Contracts of Employment
Enquiries about employee contracts come in thick and fast to our Employment Law Advisers. Contracts
have been in the news as Uber, Hermes, Deliveroo and Amazon all submitted their contracts to the
Work and Pensions Committee as part of the inquiry into self-employment and the gig economy. MPs
condemned the way in which the contracts were written and the clauses they contained. In particular,
Uber’s contracts were branded as “unintelligible” and “gibberish”.
For organisations of any size, it is easy to get it wrong. This is why you
should always seek legal advice when drafting and issuing contracts
to your staff, making changes to terms and conditions or terminating
contracts. In this guide we will answer all your questions, giving you
expert tips and warning you of potential pitfalls.
Our team of Employment Law Advisers at Ellis Whittam are on hand to
draft or review your Contracts of Employment to ensure they are up to
date, robust and legally compliant.
If you wish to discuss a specific issue or what services we can offer you,
please do not hesitate to contact me.
Rachel Lamsley
Senior Employment Law Adviser
The Definitive Employer’s Guide next page back one page back to contents page 2
to Contracts of Employment
Contents
This is what you will learn in this definitive guide.
part part
Do I need to provide my employees Can I vary an employee’s Contract
1 with a written Contract of Employment? 5 of Employment?
The Definitive Employer’s Guide next page back one page back to contents page 3
to Contracts of Employment
Do I need to provide my
1 employees with a written
Contract of Employment?
part
Do I need to provide my employees
1 with a written Contract of Employment? Does the contract need to
2 be signed?
WARNING!
Employers who do not provide a written statement or don’t specify
everything required can face claims in an Employment Tribunal. 7 Six things to take away
The Definitive Employer’s Guide next page back one page back to contents page 4
to Contracts of Employment
Do I need to provide my
1 employees with a written
Contract of Employment?
part
Do I need to provide my employees
1 with a written Contract of Employment? Does the contract need to
2 be signed?
The Definitive Employer’s Guide next page back one page back to contents page 5
to Contracts of Employment
Do I need to provide my
1 employees with a written
Contract of Employment?
part
Do I need to provide my employees
1 with a written Contract of Employment? Does the contract need to
2 be signed?
The Definitive Employer’s Guide next page back one page back to contents page 6
to Contracts of Employment
Do I need to provide my
1 employees with a written
Contract of Employment?
part
Does the contract
2 need to be signed? Does the contract need to
2 be signed?
The Definitive Employer’s Guide next page back one page back to contents page 7
to Contracts of Employment
Do I need to provide my
1 employees with a written
Contract of Employment?
part
Does the contract
2 need to be signed? Does the contract need to
2 be signed?
Employees abroad
What are the different
A signature can be handwritten or provided 3 types of contracts?
through electronic means.
EXPERT TIPS! 5
Can I vary an employee’s
Contract of Employment?
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to Contracts of Employment
Do I need to provide my
1 employees with a written
Contract of Employment?
part
What are the different
3 types of contracts? Does the contract need to
2 be signed?
There are numerous types paid for the work they actually carry out. This
of contracts: means employers do not need to give them work
and the worker does not have to accept the work What are the different
Indefinite contracts offered to them. 3 types of contracts?
This is the most common form of contract used to
run your core business activities. It allows employers to have a pool of people
available. This allows an organisation to
You may hire someone on a permanent full- respond quickly and effectively to any fluctuation
Can I agree whatever I
time or part-time basis and pay them weekly or in business demands e.g. to deal with an 4 want with the employee?
monthly. unforeseen event, cope with absences or in the
build up to a busy period.
Fixed term contracts
This is a contract that ends on a specified date or Can I vary an employee’s
when a particular event or task is completed. 5 Contract of Employment?
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to Contracts of Employment
Do I need to provide my
1 employees with a written
Contract of Employment?
part
What are the different
3 types of contracts? Does the contract need to
2 be signed?
Freelancers and consultants Agency workers are useful as they can step in at
the last minute and provide cover for sickness,
Taking on a freelancer, contractor or consultant
family-related leave or absences for unforeseen What are the different
can be a good option for an employer who needs
or emergency matters. Alternatively, they can 3 types of contracts?
someone to work on a specific project. It allows
help a business respond to a seasonal rush or a
you to get talent in without taking someone on a
sudden increase in demand. They can also cover a
permanent basis.
position while you find a suitable permanent option
or provide a niche skill within your business that
For these types of individuals, a contract for Can I agree whatever I
services will need to be drafted, which clearly
your other employees simply do not have. 4 want with the employee?
establishes the rules between you and the self-
employed contractor. It is essentially a commercial
agreement and must accurately reflect the actual
working relationship and should cover, amongst Can I vary an employee’s
other things, for how long the agreement will last, 5 Contract of Employment?
how it can be terminated, the rules on shared
services, etc.
The Definitive Employer’s Guide next page back one page back to contents page 10
to Contracts of Employment
Do I need to provide my
1 employees with a written
Contract of Employment?
part
What are the different
3 types of contracts? Does the contract need to
2 be signed?
The Definitive Employer’s Guide next page back one page back to contents page 11
to Contracts of Employment
Do I need to provide my
1 employees with a written
Contract of Employment?
part
What are the different
3 types of contracts? Does the contract need to
2 be signed?
Secondment agreements
If you are temporarily assigning an employee What are the different
to another organisation, you will need to enter 3 types of contracts?
into a secondment agreement which sets out
the rights of the secondee and the obligations
of the employer and the host business.
Can I agree whatever I
4 want with the employee?
EXPERT TIPS!
Whatever contract you are
drawing up, it is advisable to Can I vary an employee’s
get it drafted by a lawyer. Our
5 Contract of Employment?
Employment Law Advisers
can draft whatever you need to
ensure legal compliance. Your
Adviser will be familiar with How is a Contract of
working with other employers 6 Employment terminated?
in your sector so you will
benefit from experience of
implementing best practice in
other organisations.
7 Six things to take away
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to Contracts of Employment
Do I need to provide my
1 employees with a written
Contract of Employment?
part
Can I agree whatever
4 I want with the employee? Does the contract need to
2 be signed?
Statutory terms Therefore, even if it’s not mentioned in What are the different
The law establishes certain minimum duties the contract, implied terms will include the 3 types of contracts?
Wage/National Living Wage. • Employers and employees have an implied want with the employee?
duty to maintain a relationship of mutual
trust and confidence
WARNING! • Employees have a duty to not breach their
Can I vary an employee’s
duty of fidelity 5 Contract of Employment?
The law will override the
agreed terms that do not fulfil
• Employees must follow reasonable and
statutory duties. lawful orders
Every Contract of Employment contains all the duties explained above are necessary
certain terms that are ‘implied’. This means to make the contract work.
that even though they are not written down,
they still need to be followed. 7 Six things to take away
The Definitive Employer’s Guide next page back one page back to contents page 13
to Contracts of Employment
Do I need to provide my
1 employees with a written
Contract of Employment?
part
Can I agree whatever
4 I want with the employee? Does the contract need to
2 be signed?
An example is that employees will be paid Contact our Employment Law Advisers for
overtime for any additional hours or they will information on custom and practice.
receive a bonus at Christmas. Although the
Can I agree whatever I
contract does not say this and the employer 4 want with the employee?
has never sat down with the employee to Incorporated terms
specifically agree to it, it can form part of the
The terms that are included on other
contract. This is known as custom and practice.
documents, such as the Employee Handbook,
Custom and practice is unlikely to override an
may be incorporated into the Contract of Can I vary an employee’s
express term in the contract. Employment. 5 Contract of Employment?
The Definitive Employer’s Guide next page back one page back to contents page 14
to Contracts of Employment
Do I need to provide my
1 employees with a written
Contract of Employment?
part
Can I agree whatever
4 I want with the employee? Does the contract need to
2 be signed?
You should clearly state that the Handbook, it will not constitute a breach of
contents of the Employee contract.
Handbook do not form part of
the terms of their Contract 4
Can I agree whatever I
of Employment unless
otherwise stated and that you
WARNING! want with the employee?
The Definitive Employer’s Guide next page back one page back to contents page 15
to Contracts of Employment
Do I need to provide my
1 employees with a written
Contract of Employment?
part
Can I vary an employee’s
5 Contract of Employment? Does the contract need to
2 be signed?
The Definitive Employer’s Guide next page back one page back to contents page 16
to Contracts of Employment
Do I need to provide my
1 employees with a written
Contract of Employment?
part
Can I vary an employee’s
5 Contract of Employment? Does the contract need to
2 be signed?
The Definitive Employer’s Guide next page back one page back to contents page 17
to Contracts of Employment
Do I need to provide my
1 employees with a written
Contract of Employment?
part
Can I vary an employee’s
5 Contract of Employment? Does the contract need to
2 be signed?
The Definitive Employer’s Guide next page back one page back to contents page 18
to Contracts of Employment
Do I need to provide my
1 employees with a written
Contract of Employment?
part
Can I vary an employee’s
5 Contract of Employment? Does the contract need to
2 be signed?
WARNING! 3
What are the different
types of contracts?
Serving notice that you will
terminate existing contracts
should be a measure of last
resort, rather than a first port
of call. Can I agree whatever I
4 want with the employee?
Always seek legal advice
before dismissing and
re-engaging employees
because if you get it wrong Can I vary an employee’s
you could end up with unfair 5 Contract of Employment?
dismissal claims. Make sure
you have a good business
reason to want to implement
the change, have consulted
How is a Contract of
with the employee and made an 6 Employment terminated?
effort to get them to agree. By
acting reasonably and following
a fair procedure, the dismissal
should be considered fair.
7 Six things to take away
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to Contracts of Employment
Do I need to provide my
1 employees with a written
Contract of Employment?
part
How is a Contract of
6 Employment terminated? Does the contract need to
2 be signed?
This can occur in a number of ways. Depending on the terms of the contract,
employers have a few options:
Resignation What are the different
In order for an employee to resign, the • you may ask the employee to work their 3 types of contracts?
The Definitive Employer’s Guide next page back one page back to contents page 20
to Contracts of Employment
Do I need to provide my
1 employees with a written
Contract of Employment?
part
How is a Contract of
6 Employment terminated? Does the contract need to
2 be signed?
Dismissal
An employer may dismiss an employee.
What are the different
A dismissal will be considered potentially 3 types of contracts?
legally fair when an employer can show that the
dismissal was for one of the following reasons:
• related to an employee’s conduct e.g. theft
Can I agree whatever I
• related to the employee’s capability or 4 want with the employee?
qualification for the role e.g. long term sickness
absence or performance
• redundancy e.g. business closure
• a statutory restriction that prevents the
Can I vary an employee’s
5 Contract of Employment?
employment continuing e.g. a driver loses his
driving licence
some other substantial reason
•
e.g. employee is handed a long prison sentence.
How is a Contract of
6 Employment terminated?
It is not enough that the employer has a valid
reason - you must have acted reasonably in the
circumstances in treating it as a sufficient reason
for dismissing the employee.
7 Six things to take away
The Definitive Employer’s Guide next page back one page back to contents page 21
to Contracts of Employment
Do I need to provide my
1 employees with a written
Contract of Employment?
part
How is a Contract of
6 Employment terminated? Does the contract need to
2 be signed?
The Definitive Employer’s Guide next page back one page back to contents page 22
to Contracts of Employment
Do I need to provide my
1 employees with a written
Contract of Employment?
part
How is a Contract of
6 Employment terminated? Does the contract need to
2 be signed?
The Definitive Employer’s Guide next page back one page back to contents page 23
to Contracts of Employment
Do I need to provide my
1 employees with a written
Contract of Employment?
part
How is a Contract of
6 Employment terminated? Does the contract need to
2 be signed?
Notice periods
An employer must provide one week’s notice
if the employee has worked for the employer What are the different
on a continuous basis for one month or more,
3 types of contracts?
How is a Contract of
6 Employment terminated?
The Definitive Employer’s Guide next page back one page back to contents page 24
to Contracts of Employment
Do I need to provide my
1 employees with a written
Contract of Employment?
part
A Contract of Employment does not have to be in written form to be legally valid. However,
if you entered into a Contract of Employment verbally, you are still required to provide What are the different
1 each employee whose employment is to continue for more than one month with a 3 types of contracts?
‘statement of written particulars of employment’. This must be provided within two months
of the employee’s start of employment.
3 Although it is not a legal requirement, it is best practice to have the employee sign and
date the contract and return it back to you.
Can I vary an employee’s
5 Contract of Employment?
4 Some terms may be implied if there is a long-standing or established practice occurring.
In most cases, making changes without the agreement of the employee may be
5 considered a breach of contract.
How is a Contract of
6 Employment terminated?
6 A contract can be terminated if an employee resigns or they are dismissed.
To explore any of the areas touched on in this guide, please do not hesitate to contact me for
guidance and support.
The Definitive Employer’s Guide next page back one page back to contents page 25
to Contracts of Employment
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