Don’t look at this as a New Year’s resolution but rather as a time to ensure your business’s current contracts, agreements, and bylaws. This is your opportunity to ensure you limit your exposure to liability and comply with the new laws and regulations governing your respective industries. We believe in the value of contracts and have written extensively about why they are essential to your business. As a business owner, you must be familiar with NDAs, partnership agreements, indemnity agreements, and even employee contracts.
At the very least, you need to know what they are and why you should reach out to a business law attorney to help you draft them. Today, we will look closely at employee contracts, so you can update and modify them before entering the new year.
Why Does my Business Need Employee Contracts?
Florida is an at-will state, meaning you and your employer choose to work with one another—but you can also be terminated without cause. However, that does not mean that if you report a supervisor to HR, they can retaliate and fire you under an “at-will” employment arrangement. If Florida allows employees to work at will, why is there a need for employment contracts? Protecting yourself is part of being in business, but your ultimate goal is to build a thriving business that is scalable and built for long-term growth.
An employment contract explains what you expect from your employee. Conversely, they also have written confirmation of what they receive for doing so. Both employees and employers benefit from having defined expectations for how performance will be measured and assessed. Furthermore, you may not be able to launch litigation against someone who gives away your intellectual property if you don’t take appropriate steps to safeguard it. Employee contracts can outline expectations for behavior and how intellectual property needs to be treated.
What Else Should be Included?
We have already addressed the need to define your employee’s function within the company. Here are a series of questions you can ask yourself before meeting with your attorney to draft your employee contracts for the new year:
- Do you have a process for time-off requests such as vacation, PTO, and sick leave? If so, how do you want your employees to request it?
- If your employees travel to a work conference or have to use their personal money for work-related reasons, how should they be compensated?
- Do you have a dress code or other policies that guide behavior in the workplace?
- If an employee fails to meet your company’s standards or their work performance is below your previously outlined expectations, what is the process for disciplinary action?
- Do you have annual or bi-annual reviews for raises and promotions?
- List out how the employee will be compensated, how much, and what days of the month they expect to be paid.
Get in Touch With a Business Law Attorney Today
Regardless of the type of business you own, Trembly Law Firm can execute contracts that fit your unique needs. Well-written agreements that are written in accordance with current laws are enforceable. They offer you peace of mind because you have a reliable safety net in the event of a dispute. We love supporting small and medium-sized businesses, so give us a call and schedule a consultation with one of our reputable attorneys.
