Contracts, handbooks and policies or issues arising from them
Protect Your Business with Tailored Contracts and Policies
Using outdated or generic templates can leave employers exposed to legal risks, such as making non-contractual benefits binding or missing key protections. Failure to provide compliant contracts may lead to tribunal claims. Contact Kate for an audit to ensure your documents are up-to-date and legally compliant.
Risks of Using Template Contracts
Downloading template contracts from the internet can expose employers to legal risks. These documents are often outdated, poorly drafted, and fail to protect employers on key issues such as probationary periods, holiday pay, and restrictive covenants, leaving businesses vulnerable to disputes and claims.
Non-Contractual Benefits Becoming Binding
Employers using inadequate templates can unintentionally make non-contractual benefits or procedures legally binding. This mistake can lead to unexpected financial obligations if employees claim such benefits are part of their contract, potentially creating costly liabilities for the business.
Compliance with Legal Requirements
Employers must provide compliant written statements of employment particulars. Failure to do so can lead to claims, particularly if an employee successfully brings a separate employment tribunal case. Employers could be liable for up to four weeks' pay if their contracts aren’t compliant
Outdated Documents and Legal Exposure
Using out-of-date documents exposes businesses to evolving legal risks. Laws change, and template contracts may not reflect current legislation, leaving employers without necessary legal protections and exposed to potential claims from employees.
Customisation for Your Business Needs
Every business has unique needs, and generic contracts often miss important specifics. Tailored contracts and policies ensure that critical areas like restrictive covenants, holiday pay, and probationary periods align with the specific needs of your business and offer the right protections.
Get Expert Help
To avoid unnecessary risks and legal issues, it's crucial to audit your contracts and policies. Contact Kate, an experienced employment lawyer, for a comprehensive review and to ensure your documents are up-to-date, compliant, and fully protect your business from potential legal exposure.
Kate Walsh Consulting
Call Kate today on
07549894819
Contracts, handbooks and policies or issues arising from them
One issue which frequently pops up when advising new clients is the effectiveness of template contracts / handbooks which clients have downloaded from the internet. Such contracts/ handbooks are often out of date, not fit for purpose and provide little protection to the employer on issues such as probationary periods, holiday pay and restrictive covenants.
A further issue which clients have experienced by using poor templates is they have accidentally converted a non-contractual benefit or procedure into a contractual one. This could prove costly.
Employers should also be aware that if employees bring a separate, successful claim in the employment tribunal, they may be entitled to up to 4 weeks’ pay (capped at the statutory maximum) for the employer’s failure to provide a compliant written statement.
If you would like Kate to carry out an audit of your contracts and policies, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
