Everyone who takes a job has an employment contract - even if that contract is not in writing. For example, if you take a job for $8.00 an hour, you have just agreed to an $8.00 an hour contract with your employer. Under that contract, your employer now has to pay you $8.00 an hour for every hour you work, until the contract is changed.
- Must employment contracts be in writing?
- Can my employer change the terms of my contract?
- What is an "at-will" contract?
- What is an arbitration clause?
- Why does my employer want an arbitration clause?
Must employment contracts be in writing?
Generally, oral contracts are just as enforceable as written ones. Only contracts for a long period (such as a year or more) must be in writing to be valid. The problem with oral contracts is that they are hard to prove if the other side denies making a contract or disagrees with you regarding its terms. So you should try to get that agreement in writing before you start work. Many employers, however, don't like to put employment contracts in writing unless they are for employees in high-level positions. If you need help writing or negotiating a contract, contact an employment attorney, that is, a lawyer who specializes in employment law.
Can my employer change the terms of my contract?
If you don't have a contract for a specific period of time, your employer can probably change the terms of your employment. For example, even if you began work making $8.00 per hour, your employer could later cut your pay to $7.00 per hour - as long as he gives you notice before making the pay cut. Once the employer tells you that he will start paying you $7.00 and you continue to work, you probably have just entered into a new contract with the employer for $7.00 per hour.
