The contract is the first thing anyone reads when a job ends badly.

An employment agreement binds the employer to pay in exchange for work. Getting its terms right on day one is the cheapest employment work you will ever buy.

What the law requires, and when

Every employee and worker in England must receive a written statement of the main terms of their employment on or before their first day. This is a statutory right, not a formality, and it is the document a tribunal will ask for first if the relationship later breaks down.

Most employers combine the statutory statement and the contract into a single document. That is sensible — it saves issuing two, and it means there is one authoritative record of what was agreed.

What has to be in it

Where imported templates go wrong

A contract drafted for an Italian, Polish or Spanish employer will not map onto English statutory minimums. Notice periods, holiday accrual, statutory sick pay and restrictive covenants all work differently here — and those are precisely the clauses that matter at the moment a relationship ends.

Restrictive covenants

Non-compete and non-solicitation clauses are enforceable in England, but only where they protect a legitimate business interest and go no further than necessary. A twelve-month blanket ban on working anywhere in the sector will usually fail. A six-month restriction on approaching named clients the employee personally dealt with has a far better chance.

An unenforceable covenant is worse than none: it gives false comfort, and it is only ever tested at the moment you actually need it.

What this covers

In detail

How we help.

Drafting from scratch

A contract built around how your business actually operates, compliant from the first day.

Reviewing what you have

Existing contracts checked against current statutory requirements, with a written note of what needs changing.

Variations

Promotions, pay rises and changed duties recorded properly rather than left to memory.

FAQ

Common questions.

When exactly must the employee receive it?
On or before their first day of work. This applies to employees and to workers, and it has done since April 2020.
A single well-drafted template covers most standard roles. Senior staff, commission-based roles and anyone with access to sensitive client relationships usually need bespoke clauses on top.
A contract of employment can exist without being written down, but the written statement is still legally required. Relying on a verbal understanding leaves both sides arguing about what was agreed.
Issue corrected ones. Where terms have drifted from what is written, a fresh document acknowledged by the employee is cleaner than a stack of amendment letters.
Contracts governed by English law are drafted in English, but we will explain every clause in Italian and can prepare an Italian summary for your records.

Related

Other areas you may need.

Employment Law

The full practice area this sits within.

Documentation

A related service in the same area.

Official Conciliation

A related service in the same area.

Get in touch

Tell us what you are dealing with.

Office

London, United Kingdom