Employee Contract Form

Answer 1

The Employment Contract Form is a By Product of the Old Master-Servant Law Used in the UK Before the 20th Century

The influential labor lawyer Sir Otto Kahn-Freund once said, “the relation between an employer and an isolated employee or worker is typically a relation between a bearer of power and one who is not a bearer of power.” An employment contract is a legal document that lists the rights and duties of the employer as well as the employee. Businesses in countries around the world use them to define responsibilities and outline ethical behavior within a specific organization or corporation.

The old master-servant law was put in place in 1823 to regulate the activities of servants, laborers, and other workers. The law influenced the enactment of similar laws in the US and Australia in 1845. Those laws were designed to discipline employees and discourage the formation of labor unions. Employment laws required obedience and loyalty; infringements were punishable in the courtroom and hard labor was often the sentence.

Employment contracts have come a long way since those days. Workers as well as employers enter into employment contracts to protect each other’s rights while performing work related activities. There are several different employment contract forms available and they all list certain work functions that are expected during the course of employment. The employment contract form can be written to only protect the employer so it’s always a good idea to read the fine print and get legal advice before signing a binding agreement that could hinder work related activities.

The Basic Employment Contract Form Specifies Business Related Duties and Responsibilities as well as Compensation and Termination

An employment contract can fill several pages or it can be just a couple of pages that list all the pertinent points related to a specific job within an organization. The main points covered on an employment contract form are:

• The Agreement to Employ and to be Employed
• The Description of the Employee’s Duties
• The Method Used in Performing Employment Duties
• The Duration of Employment
• Compensation and Reimbursement for Services Rendered During the Length of the Contract
• Loyalty to Employer’s Interests
• Nondisclosure of Business Information
• The Option to Terminate Due to Permanent Disability
• A Business Termination Clause if the Business Discontinues Operations
• Employee Commitment are Only Binding With Employer Consent Clause
• Exclusivity Clause
• Waiver or Modification Ineffectiveness Clause
• Contract Constructed According to State Law Clause
• Binding Effect Agreement Clause
• Signatures of Employee and Employer