Contracts of employment 

Contracts of employment – advice for employers

Clear, well-drafted employment contracts are the foundation of effective employer/employee relationships and a vital risk-management tool. They set expectations from the outset, support consistent management decisions and provide protection when issues arise. Poorly drafted or outdated contracts, by contrast, can expose businesses to unnecessary disputes, cost and uncertainty.

Strong contractual documentation also supports consistent management practice, which is increasingly important when dealing with performance issues, disciplinary matters, redundancies or exits.

At Coodes, our specialist employment lawyers advise employers across the region on creating, updating and managing employment contracts that are legally compliant, practical and aligned with commercial objectives. Our focus is on helping you put documentation in place that works for your business, not against it.

Employment contract services

Our expert employment team supports businesses at every stage of the employment lifecycle, including:

• Drafting and reviewing employment contracts for employees at every level, including senior executives.
• Ensuring compliance with current employment legislation, including statutory particulars and evolving case law.
• Tailoring contracts to your business, sector and risk profile, rather than relying on generic templates.
• Advising on variations to terms, including changes to duties, pay, hours, place of work or benefits.
• Preparing specialist clauses, such as probationary terms, bonus arrangements, garden leave and termination provisions.
• Drafting and advising on restrictive covenants, helping to protect confidential information, client relationships and intellectual property.

As well as support with general employment contracts, we can advise on contracts for directors and senior staff, where additional complexity and risk often arise, and can advise on alignment between contracts, policies and wider HR documentation.

Practical, commercial advice

We take a pragmatic and employer-focused approach to employment contracts. We work closely with HR teams, managers and business owners to ensure contracts are clear, enforceable and easy to operate in practice.

Whether you are onboarding new staff, reviewing legacy documentation or restructuring your workforce, we will provide clear advice to help employment law work for your business and protect you from costly and disruptive disputes.

Fees

Related topics:

• Redundancy and restructuring advice
• HR training
• Business sales and TUPE
• Absence and performance management
• Whistleblowing
• Settlement agreements
• Employment Tribunal representation
• Contracts, handbooks and policies