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By miguel-ingles
- In Uncategorized
Managing the contracts are one of the most important parts of running a company. Therefore, an employer should know how to write valid labour agreements with their workers to avoid legal problems. In this article, I explain how to write a job contract in the UK.
What are the Job Contracts in the UK?
A job contract is a legal agreement between an employer and an employee. All workers must have a contract in effect with their employer. In these, a series of terms are reflected, which regulate the working conditions of the employee.
- Start and end date of the employment contract.
- The working conditions. This section includes working hours, rest days, holiday periods or whether to perform in-person work or remote working, among other issues.
- The rights and duties of the worker.
- Salary and other benefits. The company may include health insurance, pension plans, etc.
- Clauses for termination of the contract by either party.
Types of Job Contracts in the UK
In the British country, there are several different types of employment contracts. In the first place, there are full-time and part-time contracts. These are the most common agreements in the UK. They are usually indefinite. They establish a series of terms, such as those that I explained previously. For part-time contracts, it is important to set a minimum of working hours to give employees the opportunity to work extra hours if they so wish.
In the second place, fixed-term contracts are especially popular among businesses that hire sole traders for a particular job. Their duration is usually not longer than one year and, as in the previous case, they stipulate certain rights and the wage of the worker. Upon completion, they can be converted into full-time or part-time contracts.
Finally, there are also zero-hour contracts in the UK. These consist of the fact that the employer is not obliged to offer the worker a certain number of hours, nor the employee to accept them when offered. You should bear in mind that, with this type of contract, it is illegal to include exclusivity clauses for them to work with a single company.
Steps to Write a Job Contract in the UK
1. Specify the Type of Contract and the Parties
The first step in drafting an employment contract is to add a title. In it, you should reflect the type of agreement (full time, part time, etc.).
On the other hand, it is essential to mention which are the parties of the contract. In this way, the employer and the employee are identified. In addition, you should not forget to include the personal and contact data of each of the parties.
2. How to Write a Job Contract in the UK: Terms
The terms reflect the provisions of a contract. The contract between the employer and the employee must display them clearly.
You should consider that, if the contract does not reflect an agreement on certain matters, the so-called “implied terms” may cover them. These conditions establish certain legal requirements. For example, the employer must offer the employee a minimum of 28 days of holidays per year or that the workers do not steal from their company.
3. Responsibilities of the Job
The employer must explain the employee the work they expect the worker to perform during the duration of the contract and the responsibilities arising from it. For example, whether they may have to travel for business meetings, if their job will be in office or telematically, the working hours per week or the flexibility of shifts, among other factors.
4. How to Write a Job Contract in the UK: Consulting the Contract with a Lawyer
It is a good idea to consult the contract with a lawyer who is expert in the field after drawing it up. These professionals will analyse that what is stipulated in the document complies with the law and will advise on possible modifications to the agreement.
You can check a job contract sample on this website.
In ukstartcompany, you will find information about how to establish, register and operate companies with different legal structures and business activities in the UK.