| From confidentiality to ownership of inventions, | | | | employment disputes, should they arise. |
| employment contracts cover a wide range of | | | | Employment contracts protect both sides in the |
| legal employment matters. Like any contract, | | | | event of a disagreement. At the first sign of a |
| employment contracts can be written or verbal, | | | | dispute, a contract comes in handy and can simply |
| implied or explicit. Having a good written contract | | | | be reviewed to confirm each side's rights and |
| benefits both the employer and the employee | | | | responsibilities. In due course, a lawsuit might be |
| because the contract makes a clear, definitive | | | | filed if the employer or employee is not upholding |
| record of the terms each party is agreeing to at | | | | their side of the contract. Thus the most |
| the time. | | | | important function of a written contract is to |
| For example, the confidentiality agreement | | | | avoid litigation. Matters of who is right and who is |
| mentioned earlier is a contract in which the | | | | wrong are decided quickly, and you can avoid |
| employee promises not to reveal any of the | | | | drawn-out arguments of "he said-she-said." |
| employer's secrets. It is implied in this contract | | | | Each side should retain a proper copy for their |
| that as long as the employee keeps up their end | | | | own reference. A contract's purpose can't be |
| of the bargain, the employer promises to continue | | | | fulfilled if it's lost in a storage box somewhere at |
| offering the employee that position. Because of | | | | home or in the office. Besides, memories fade |
| the larger issues surrounding this agreement, it | | | | and disputes can arise long after the initial |
| may stand alone or be incorporated as a clause in | | | | employment period begins. A written copy |
| a larger contract. | | | | ensures that both parties know what they have |
| A well-written contract offers a simpler and | | | | agreed to and that they can be reminded of their |
| less-expensive way for both sides to settle | | | | duties whenever necessary. |