Employee Contract Labor Rights
Not all employees are required to sign employee contracts. However, it is sometimes in the best interest of the employee to do so. Unlike an at will employee who can be terminated at the will of an employer or have his salary reduced, an employee who signs an employee contract is guaranteed wages, benefits, and job security with the company. The employer cannot violate the terms of the contract without the employee's permission.
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Types of Employees
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Employee contracts do not just apply to full-time or permanent employees. Employee contracts apply to other types of employees as well. There are casual employees, who work full time or part time, and temporary or fixed-term employment that is full or part time for a specified time period. If an employee has signed a contract, the terms of the contract must be met for every type of employee, unless the contract states otherwise.
Wage Clarification
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The primary focus of the employee contract is the wages for work. If an employee contract states an employee is to be paid a certain amount in wages, the employee has the right to receive these wages. Wages include holiday pay, vacation pay, sick pay, overtime and other forms of wages. Some employees can require paid time off for family and medical leaves in their contracts; if this is the case, the employee must be paid for her eligible time off.
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Time Frame of Job
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An employee who signs an employment contract can require the time frame of the job or position to be included. If an employer agrees to keep the employee for five years, the employer has an obligation to the employee to honor that term. An employee can not be terminated or laid off from before the specified time frame has expired, unless the employee has a clause in the contract stating otherwise.
Termination Benefits
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In the event that an employee is terminated, the termination agreement in her contract comes into play. If the contract requires an employer to pay a severance package, the employee is entitled to the benefits originally agreed to. This includes wage payments and continue usage of any health benefits for the agreed-upon time frame.
Misconception of Employee Policy and Handbooks
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An employee contract does not necessarily have to be a written contract between the employer and the employee. Employees are under the misconception that the policies or handbooks that employers have them sign before working are not a contract. In fact, the handbook is a contract, along with an offer letter or other documentation. The employee is agreeing to the terms of the document, just as the employer is. An employee can request an employee contract, but the employer does not have to comply with the request. Most employees are at will employees, and the employee or employer can generally end the working relationship at will.
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