Most employment relationships will be underpinned with an employment contract. An employment contract will ordinarily set out the key terms of your employment and any restrictions following the termination of your employment. If you have been provided with a new employment contract or looking to leave your current employment and want advice on the terms of your contract our team of specialised employment lawyers can provide pragmatic and practical advice and identify any clauses of which you should be specifically aware.
Employment Contracts
Expert advice on your employment contract, helping you understand your rights, obligations and any restrictions before you start a new role or leave your current one.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to your most pressing questions about our services and processes.
Does my employer need to give me an employment contract?
Whilst there is no obligation to give a formal contract of employment, all employees or workers are entitled to be provided with a written statement of employment particulars. This document should set out the core terms governing the relationship including but not limited to hours of work, rate of pay, holiday entitlement, place of work and length of the job if fixed term. This should be provided to you on day one of your employment/contractual arrangement.
Should I take legal advice on my employment contract?
You do not need to take legal advice before entering an employment contract, however, we recommend that you do so to ensure that you fully understand the terms of the contract which you are agreeing to. We can also look to advise you on the potential effects the contract may have in the future.
Can my employer look to restrict future activities?
Your employment contract may well contain post termination restrictions such as non-compete or non-solicitation provisions. Many employees do not realise what they are agreeing to when signing a contract and subsequently discover they are impeded when looking to move to a new job. We can advise you on any post termination restrictions in your contract, their enforceability and what options you may have.
Can my employer change the terms of my contract?
In most cases your employer will not be able to simply change the terms of your employment without first following a consultation procedure and obtaining your consent.
In some circumstances your contract may have a mobility clause, which may allow your employers to ask you to work in a different location (providing it is reasonable) without obtaining your consent.
What happens if I do not consent to changes to my employment contract?
Your employer should consult with you about any proposed changes to the contract and any concerns that you may have. If your employer unilaterally imposes the changes you could continue to work under protest or potentially refuse to work and consider submitting a claim for constructive unfair dismissal.
In some instances, employers may look to fire and rehire. This is risky for employers to do and if your employer takes this step, we would always encourage that you seek advice on your position.
Can I request changes to my terms of employment?
You can always look to request changes to your contractual terms but there is not necessarily an obligation for your employer to agree to these.
In some instances, your employer may have increased obligations to consider your request, in particular, if you were making a flexible working request with perhaps changes to your hours, place of work or working pattern.