How to Write an Employment Contract

employment contracts for small businesses

It saves money and you know for sure you’ll be getting things done your way and to your high standards. As written employment contracts aren’t a legal requirement it’s all too often seen as one less job you have to take on. Rocket Lawyer is an industry leader in the online legal document space. https://www.bookstime.com/ They help small and mid-sized businesses with legal services ranging from incorporation services to document creation. For just $39.99 per month, you can create as many employment contracts as you need. That’s why it’s important to spell out your expectations and requirement to your new hires.

Part-time employment typically falls within the hours per week range but can be anything below what’s considered full-time in that state. While retaining a qualified employment lawyer will likely lead to a highly-tailored agreement, not every employment relationship necessitates an hourly bill. There should be fairness, give and take between the employer and employee. Handbooks, agreements and policies exist to benefit the employee as much as the employer. Laying out and following these “rules of the employment game” makes sure there are no unpleasant surprises, and lets your employees know they are treated equally and fairly. No attorney-client relationship is created between you and any attorney who publishes content or online forms on this site.

The Right-To-Work States & Non-Compete Agreements

Many businesses enter Loan Agreements with banks or financial institutions and simply sign the lender’s “standard” form. employment contracts for small businesses The standard form tends to be very one-sided in favor of the lender, with various restrictions on the borrower.

Also, keep in touch with benefits that are currently important to employees. Finally, keeping everything up to date is essential, so make a point to review all employment contracts annually.

How important are contracts in small businesses?

However, in some situations you may want to lock in a particularly valuable employee and ensure they’ll stay with you for a set period of time. Especially if you’re just starting out, writing a small business employment contract for your key employees can provide you with the stability your company needs in its first years. Contracts allow small-business owners to keep valuable personnel and force their employees to guard the company’s secrets. At the same time, contracts appeal to workers seeking job security, so guaranteeing employment contracts gives you a competitive advantage when seeking the best employees. While firing an employee with a contract is more difficult, contracts make workplace attire, behavior and etiquette easier to enforce. Contracts also prevent expensive litigation costs by settling disputes according to the clear terms of the contract.

employment contracts for small businesses

Many job positions give employees access to confidential company information and data. It’s a good idea to include a confidentiality clause in each worker’s employment contract, to protect your business. For an employer without written employment contracts, losing a key employee at the short-notice of one week could be devastating for the smooth running of the business. A written contract can stipulate the requirement of a longer notice period.

Top 10 Contracts for Every Small Business

With this clause in place, employees are prevented from divulging sensitive or confidential information to others. This can include being released to the media or public, shared on social media, or being used for any other purposes. If an employee was to breach their contract in this way, their employer is able to take legal action against them. It also gives grounds to add or subtract benefits according to the employee’s performance. If an employee is consistently underperforming and not meeting the agreement set out in their contract, their employer will have reason to take action. Having a contract that defines the standards expected of each employee is a great way to get the best out of each team member. With both parties aware of what is expected in terms of employee performance, there can be no room for confusion.