While many businesses understand the importance of a comprehensive employment contract, some struggle with developing one. Nevertheless, companies should provide staff with a standard employment contract that meets national employment standards. It should also address the full terms and conditions of employment, and businesses should ensure that employees understand them. 

Workplace Wizards’ consultants have years of experience in reviewing, drafting, and developing comprehensive, legally defensible, employment contracts. We can help businesses create detailed, compliant employment contracts, which clearly state:

• The full position description, including working hours, stated duties, whether the role offers flexible working arrangements, and so on. Businesses not providing this increases the chances of employee disputes, by claiming a set task falls outside their designated duties;
• Remuneration and hours of work. What employees are paid will vary depending on their industry, work type, and other pertinent matters. For example, casual employees are typically paid by the hour, meaning that if they work overtime they get remunerated accordingly. An employment contract should clearly state remuneration conditions, minimising potential disagreements over hours;
• Staff code of conduct and non-disclosure obligations. For example, many staff are active on social media outside of work hours. Businesses that work with confidential information usually have a policy about not discussing work matters on social media. An employment contract should clearly outline expected staff behaviour, and what action may be taken to address serious misconduct;
• Paid leave entitlements, unpaid leave, pandemic leave, working from home policies, and so on;
• Post employment restraints. This clearly outlines what actions a former employee is restricted from taking, over a specified period, upon concluding their employment. This could include contacting former clients or asking a former colleague to come work with them at a competitor.

By clearly describing the terms and conditions of employment in writing, businesses are developing an informed, supportive work environment. Furthermore, an employment contract can also protect a company from unfair dismissal claims.