subject: Employment Contracts Are There To Protect Everyone [print this page] Employment Contracts Are There To Protect Everyone
Given the current state of the economy, it has never been more important for a company to have good employment contracts in place, which protect both the firm and the employee. There is a natural reaction for many people to think that contracts will all be weighted towards benefiting the employer but this is not the case with the majority of firms, and certainly should not be the case in any reputable company. There is an obvious need to provide clear guidance for firms and employees to adhere to during the time when an employee works for a firm and if there is a parting of the ways between the company and the employee.
One of the most important things contained in employment contracts, especially in the current climate, will be the IT policy. The advent of the internet has created new concerns for companies and employees regarding use at work and at times, away from work. Some firms are inserting terms into their contracts that govern behaviour on social networking sites which require employees to adhere to strict rules and guidelines. This is something that has to be considered before being implemented and it is something that employees need to fully understand before signing. There have been many people who have lost their job due to breaking company convention on social networking sites and if it is in the contract, it must be adhered to.
It is important to understand that not every aspect of a contract is bad for an employee; the contract can contain elements of how many annual leave days are provided for an employee or the length of time that can be taken on maternity or paternity leave. The contract may also create a provision for training, allowing staff to receive funding or time off to undertake additional training sessions. These are all aspects which can be of benefit to the employee and if they are included in the contract, they are entitled to claim them.
When most people think of employment contracts, they will consider the termination of the contract. Losing a job at any time is stressful and difficult but losing a job during the time of recession is extremely difficult. It is obvious that emotions can run high, which makes it very important that all measures and regulations listed in an employment contract regarding the termination of a contract is adhered to. These types of contract are known as compromise agreements and they are put in place to safeguard the company and the employee and if the conditions of the agreement are not met, it opens up the possibility for one party to make a claim against the other for being in breach of this contract.
