Employment Contracts
Goughs are the obvious choice when looking for a business contracts lawyer
Goughs are the obvious choice when looking for a business contracts lawyer
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Why are employment contracts so important?
All employees, regardless of the number of hours they work per week, are entitled to receive a written statement detailing the terms and conditions of employment from their employer, on or before starting work.
Contracts go far beyond the legal necessity, they provide protection and peace of mind to all parties so everyone knows where they stand.

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What do the contracts for my employees need to include?
Under Section 1 of the Employment Rights Act 1996, an employment contract must include the following. However, this is by no means an exhaustive list and there are variables that may affect you, your business and your employees so we would strongly advise that you get in contact for further advice and details. For example, for more senior positions you may wish to consider post-termination restrictive clauses.
The names of you as the employer and the employee
The date of commencement of employment
The amount of pay and the frequency of payment, eg – weekly or monthly
The hours of work
Holiday entitlement
Notice entitlement
The title of the job and where it is based
What the disciplinary, dismissal and grievance procedures are in the workplace
Sickness entitlement
Details and eligibility for the employer’s occupational pension scheme, if there is one
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Most popular business
employment questions
Yes you can, and for a number of different reasons. You can be in breach of contract if you do something that doesn’t match what’s outlined under the terms of the employment contract. This can include:
- Making unauthorised changes to the contract
- Not following the correct procedures as outlined in the contract
- Failing to pay monies owed such as salary.
As an employer you aren’t permitted to make changes to an employee’s working hours, job duties or rate of pay in the employment contract without notifying the employee, and in many cases reaching agreement.
Yes. It is a statutory requirement to provide written terms and conditions (know as “particulars”) before you start work.
At Goughs, our employment specialists can draft and tailor contracts and policies to fit your business needs, whilst ensuring they are reasonable and enforceable. We can help with both writing and reviewing existing contracts and advising on breach of employment contract issues.
We have built up many years of experience and our team not only offer advice to businesses but also advise on broader business planning issues and sit on various advisory boards, ensuring that our advice and expertise looks beyond the contract itself and ensures all advice really is in the best interest of the future of the business.
Why you should put your business in Goughs hands

Locality
With offices throughout Wiltshire, we are here for face to face, or virtual appointments at a time to suit you.

Knowledge
We draw from a wide range of disciplines to support you in keeping your business moving forward.

Experience
Goughs have been providing legal services to businesses across the south west since 1882.
Your employment law team
Rebecca Dennis
Senior Associate, Head of Employment
Rebecca's professional background is unique in that she worked for more than 20 years as a barrister providing legal advice, drafting and advocacy for her clients and more recently provided specialist trouble-shooting services on employment law and employee relations at a leading international HR outsourcing company. She is now proud to lead the Employment Department at Goughs.
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