FREE Things to Always Check before Signing an Employment Contract [ With Samples ]

Congratulations! You’re hired! So this is what they tell you after you have completed the hiring process. It is because you did great in impressing your employer so you are now part of the company. They would usually give you a schedule to do the contract signing at a later date once you have completed their pre-employment requirements. So you went out of the building with a very big smile printed on your face.

Excited as you may be, you need to be prepared about signing your employment contract. So what is an employment contract? For those who don’t know, an employment contract is a legal contract intended for use between an employer and their employee. This contract states the duties, responsibilities, and the terms and conditions of an employment. Everybody would get excited at the thought of having to sign this kind of contract. But it is also a crucial part of one’s employment and it should be taken seriously.

Having enough knowledge about employment contracts, what should be in it and who can sign it can provide you with an advantage. You will be made aware of the things that you need to watch out or look for in an employment contract, as well as point out the benefits that you are entitled to.

We have gathered here employment contract samples of different kinds that are guaranteed to help you know more and understand about them. These samples are in PDF to make it easier and more convenient for you to download them. Each of these samples are free for download. Get them now!

Sample Employment Contract Head Cook

Probationary Teacher Employment Contract

Confidentiality Agreement Sample

Sample Part-time Employment Contract

Director’s Service Agreement

Types of Employment Contract

To help us understand more about employment contracts, we should start first by knowing its different types. There are mainly six types of employment contracts and they are full-time employment contracts, part-time employment contracts, fixed-term employment contracts, director’s service agreement, consultancy agreement, and the zero hours contract. Each of these types are discussed below.

• Full-Time or Permanent Employment Contract – This is the most commonly used type of employment contract where the company largely relies on their employees to do full-time work. The employees are required to work for a fixed number of hours per week and often for longer hours as required by the employer, but with additional pay. An employee in a full-time employment contract is entitled to a lot of benefits and opportunities within the company.
• Part-Time Employment Contract – In a part-time employment contract, the work arrangement changes depending on the work-related needs of the employer. Unlike those in a full-time employment contract, part-time workers only work for a certain number of hours per week, which is determined by the employer’s needs. This means that they are paid lesser. Although that is the case, part-time employees are still entitled to the same benefits as full-time employees. They also have the chance to become full-time employees in the long run, especially if they’re doing a great job.
• Fixed-Term Employment Contract – The length of this contract spans from a couple of days to a number of years and it all depends on how big or small the project or job is. Those who are under a fixed-term contract are in a temporary employment. A future end date of the contract is already provided even before the contract date has started. This can also be considered as a project-based job.
• Director’s Service Agreement – This type of contract is a comprehensive and detailed document that is intended for those hired by the company to become the company’s director. This contract is made comprehensive so that specific details like how a director should act or behave within the particular company is discussed. It is because directors have access to a company’s financial and confidential resources. The contract includes any restrictions and the scope of the duties of the director.
• Consultancy Agreement – This is a contract between a company and a consultant where the company wishes to use the services of a consultant but not hire them as part of the company.
• Zero Hours Contract – The zero hours contract has been a controversial matter in the United States and their government has been finding ways on having restrictions on this type of contract to be implemented. This is because, in a zero hours contract, employers call their employees to report to work even if there is no work waiting for them there. If there is no work, then there will be no pay. Employees are at a big disadvantage in this type of contract.

 

Temporary Contract of Employment

Fixed-Term Employment Contract

Full-Time Employment Contract

Services for Agency Workers Contract

University Employment Contract

What Is Included in an Employment Contract?

It is important that you know what’s in a contract to ensure that the one you are looking at is complete. An employment contract that is lacking might not be very useful and may cause you a lot of trouble in the future. Below are what you should have in your employment contract.

• Names of the parties involved or the name of the employer and the employee
• The date when the employee will start working
• The number of hours the employee needs to work, including the time and their shift
• The place where they will need to report to work
• The employee’s job title and job description
• Their salary rate
• How long their probationary period is
• Any deductions that will be taken from their salary
• The needed assessments
• Other employment particulars
• Holidays benefits
• Expenses
• Provided pension
• Sickness and disability benefits
• The restrictive covenants
• Employment-related notices
• Any prior agreements
• Applicable bonds
• Procedures followed for grievance and disciplinary actions
• Retirement
• Severability
• Jurisdiction

 

Freelance Agreement Contract

Live-in Caregiver Employer-Employee Contract

In-home Caregiver Employer-Employee Contract

Resort Contract of Employment

Things to Check before You Sign That Employment Contract

In a couple of days or maybe later, you will be officially employed. Soon you will have a stable job, you can wear business attires, get your salary, and treat your family and friends. But before you even think about it, try to think first about your employment contract. Before you sign that simple employment contract, check first for the following:

• Job security. This is the very first thing you need to take into consideration before you sign an employment contract. Job security assures that an individual can keep their jobs without any risks of losing it. As an employee, you need to make sure that you will be protected from any forms of involuntary termination. Ask questions if you must.
• The start and end dates. Make sure that your contract states your start and end date, especially if you are in a fixed-term employment. Specific dates should be included together with other details, like the number of work hours, the shift, and the location or place where you will be reporting for work.
• The job description. It is also important that your job description is stated clearly and concisely in the employment contract. It should be the same as what you have been told and should be in line with the type of job they are looking for.
• Causes for termination. It is good to look at the bright side and be positive that you will stay for a very long time in the company. But it won’t hurt if you have the end in mind. Your contract should include the causes or grounds for having an employee terminated. If you know this, then you will surely be able to avoid getting yourself terminated.
• The compensation and benefits. Who wouldn’t want to know how much they’re getting paid and the benefits that they are entitled to? Check your base pay if it is the same as what has been initially offered to you. Read the benefits carefully, when and how you can get them, and any bonuses that you are entitled to.
• Non-solicitation of clients and employees. This part states that you are not allowed to solicit or steal the client or employees who are working for the said company in the event that you resign or leave for another company. If you are planning to leave the said company to go to another company with the same nature of job, you might not be able to do so or you might face consequences.
• Moonlighting. Are you planning to get another job as a sideline? Check out the details in the contract if the company will allow you to do this. Most companies are strict regarding this matter as they consider employees having multiple jobs to become unproductive and inefficient.
• Noncompete clause. Make sure that you don’t get yourself to become unemployable in the future. Most employers would ban their employees from working for their competitors when they leave the company. If you miss this part, then you are up for trouble.