Your team of employees makes your business possible. Your obligations to your employees depend on their type of employment – whether casual, part-time, or full-time – as well as a range of employment regulations.

You should enter into an employment contract with each of your employees when you bring them on board to cover all key terms of their employment with you. This means that both you and the employee will be clear on roles and obligations, so in case any issues arise, you have your Employment Contract to refer to.

Each clause in an employment contract should be carefully drafted, taking into consideration legal compliance and practicality in your workplace. The following should considered by any good lawyer, as well as provisions specific to your business:

1. Does the clause meet the standards set out in the Fair Work Act or the relevant Award?
2. Does this clause protect the business?
3. Is this clause consistent with current terms offered to others within the same or similar position?

Answering these questions can be difficult without current knowledge of relevant industry Awards and legislative updates. This is where engaging a good lawyer becomes particularly crucial; you need to make sure your employment contracts don’t violate any laws otherwise you’ll face serious penalties.

If you’re an Australian business, an Employment Contract is essential in any employment relationship you form. This is mainly because if anything goes wrong, you can refer to the agreement! It’s the best way of ensuring you and your employee are on the same page as to what’s expected from the very start.

Plus, in Australia, there are a lot of important legislative requirements and Awards you and your employee need to abide by and be aware of. An Employment Contract is a good way to set out these legal obligations in writing so that both you and your employee know what’s legally required of you in the relationship.

If a dispute arises around payment or leave entitlements, your Employment Contract should set out the process for managing these matters. Having these sorts of clauses in your Employment Contract prevents uncertainty should disputes arise down the road between you and your employee.

Our fixed-fee Employment Contract packages start at $1400 + GST. This includes a full-time, part-time and casual employment contract for general use by your business, drafted in accordance with your specific requirements. You’ll also receive phone consultations with a Sprintlaw lawyer and a complimentary amendment to the final draft we provide to you.