Can I write my own contract of employment for my business?
Well there is nothing stopping you, technically.
There are also many templates kicking about free or very cheap online.
Cheap ones might be missing terms relevant to your business, or they might have loads of extra’s that you don’t need; and leaving them in could be counter productive.
The term “contract of employment” is often used for the legally required “statement of employment particulars”. It is a day one right for new employees, so it must be provided no later than their first day of employment.
I would always recommend it is signed before the first day, so that any questions from either side can be clarified and the terms in which the individual is being employed are clear.
I would strongly recommend you seek support from either an Employment Lawyer, or an experienced HR professional. Even if you draft your own contract, getting it looked over by someone who understands who you are employing and what you expect of them; can make such a difference down the line.
👉This guide from ACAS tells you what you need to include and includes useful templates. It’s a great go to for companies wishing to go it alone.
Other points to consider are the type of contract:- full time, part time, zero hours, term time only, fixed-term contract, etc. What does that mean for pro rata pay and holiday?
Remember, some things have to be contractual and align with the law. Some things do not have to be contractual, and would be potentially detrimental to include. If something is not usually contractual, putting it in the contract, makes it contractual. It’s then much harder to change down the line.
Having your contract templates reviewed, based on the types of roles and benefits you have is a low cost for the assurance that you have a compliant solution.
Remember, our packages start from as little as ⭐ £180+VAT p/m ⭐, which can also cover review or provision of a contract of employment and offer letter that provide the detail you need. Find out more about our packages here, or get in touch to find out which one would be best suited to your needs.
