Contracts of Employment

It is a legal requirement for employers to provide employees with a written statement of terms and conditions within 2 months of the commencement of their employment. The matters which must be dealt with in the statement of terms are:

• Identity of the parties
• Date of commencement of employment
• Date continuous employment began (in case any previous employment with an associated employer counts)
• Scale or rate of remuneration and intervals of pay
• Hours of work
• Any terms relating to:
    o Holiday and holiday pay
    o Sickness and sick pay
    o Pensions and pension schemes
• Length of notice required to determine the contract
• If the employment is not permanent, the length of time it is expected to continue, or if it is for a fixed term, the date it will end
• Job description or brief description of work for which they are employed
• Place/s of work
• Details of any collective agreements which affect the terms and conditions of employment
• If employees are required to work outside the UK for more than one month, details relating to the period of such work, currency of payment, additional remuneration or benefits provided and terms relating to their return to the UK
• Details of the disciplinary and dismissal rules and grievance procedures including any statutory procedures (it can be stated that these procedures are not contractual, and employees can simply be referred to another document containing these rules)
• Whether a contracting out certificate under the Pension Schemes Act 1993 is in force

This is the bare minimum employers can provide. Often, and in nearly all cases where senior employees are involved, it is advisable to have a more comprehensive document.

How can Warners help?

Warners’ specialist employment lawyers can assist you in drafting all types of employment contracts and service agreements. If you would like assistance in this area please contact Angie Crush, who is a solicitor specialising in employment law, on 01732 747 903 or by email at angie.crush@warners-solicitors.co.uk