Are my employee contracts still suitable?
An employment contract is a written employment agreement documenting the shared rights and responsibilities between your company and your employee.
Having written employment contracts for your employees is a legal requirement. What is in the contracts though, will vary depending on your business. For some, knowing what to include in an employment contract vs a policy can be a bit of a minefield.
Keeping your employment contracts up to date
Several things must be covered in your employee contracts and they are governed by legislation. It is vital that you are up to date with any statutory changes and that you are adapting contracts as and when they need to be. Failing to do so could leave you open for legal action from your employees.
One of the most significant changes recently has been the introduction of GDPR. Ensuring that you are compliant is essential and the ICO will issue penalties for non-compliance.
Changes are on the horizon
The new ‘Good Work Plan’ which was published in December 2018 will have a dramatic impact when it is formalized. The plan will strengthen the rights of workers and will cover a huge range of areas so keeping abreast of these changes will be vital. One of the areas which is likely to face some changes will be that of Parental Leave. There will also be some significant changes on the horizon in 2020 relating to agency workers.
Brexit is likely to have huge repercussions relating to employment law. What these changes will look like is completely unknown at this point so keeping a close eye on future changes will be very important.
Getting support
One of the best ways to ensure that your employment contracts are suitable is to work with an HR company or consultancy such as Altum HR that specializes in employment law. They will be able to support you and flag any changes which will have an impact on how you employ your staff.
Working with a consultancy such as ourselves will give you peace of mind knowing that your contracts are compliant and that you are safeguarding yourself against possible legal action from disgruntled employees.
If you would like to take advantage of our free employment contract reviews get in touch and book in for a free no-obligation consultation.