4 Steps to Prepare an Employment Contract for Your Office
If you run a small business and plan to hire employees, you will need to draw up written contracts to ensure that your interests are well protected. The level of certainty brought forth by a written contract ensures that both employees and employers are happy with the terms. A commercial lawyer can help you draw up an employment contract for your office –– follow these steps to help you better prepare.
Make Sure The Contract Includes Specific Hours Of Work
Some jobs are regular jobs, while others have certain timings and expectations. To ensure that your employees adhere to your requirements, it's best to list down the hours and work timings. This not only provides clarity, but also eliminates any room for mis-communication between you and your employee in the future. You may need to consult your lawyer about maximum working hours and other specific requirements if your employees are in roles that require them to work at different times.
Include Details Of Wages
Every employment contract you draw up should ideally list down as many details of the wages as possible for minimum confusion. Wage details should ideally include amount, method of payment and payment schedules. For example, some employees receive monthly bank transfers, while others receive fortnightly cheques. Be sure to list down the details depending on how you plan on paying your employees. Keep in mind that you will also need to include details of superannuation in your employee's nominated fund. To draw up wage details, you may likely need to work with both a lawyer and accountant based on your business budget needs.
Add Details Of Holidays Or Leaves
Part-time, casual, contract or full-time employees are all entitled to some paid time off based on the type of employment they are in. For instance, full-time employees are often allowed to take a few paid weeks off without compromising on their earnings. Your employment contract will need to clearly stipulate these conditions to ensure that your employees get what they are entitled to, and you protect your own interests as a fair employer.
Include Duration Of Employment And Notice Periods
A written employment contract should also include duration and notice periods, so that your employees don't end up walking away without any prior intimation. The employment duration will also determine whether you need the employee for a certain period or for an unlimited duration. You may also want to include non-compete clauses for a stipulated period if you're training your employee for a certain task and want to protect your own interests.
Follow these steps to prepare an employment contract for employees. A professional lawyer can help you draw up a legally binding contract based on your particular business needs.