Policies and Procedures
In conjunction with the Employment Contract, it is recommended there are clearly defined policies and procedures in the workplace. The Contract provides the main terms of employment, but all employees should be aware of relevant policies such as sickness, disciplinary and dismissal procedures.
With the impact of the pandemic, all employers are recommended to have written policies in place to ensure employees are aware of their obligations if they display symptoms of Covid-19 to protect other staff, in addition to self-isolation requirements and working from home arrangements, if applicable.
Our employment law specialists can review current policies and/or create policies based on an assessment of your business needs. Employers often engage us to carry out a health check of their employment contracts and policies to ensure they are up to date or address changes in the law.
Consultancy Agreements for self-employed contractors
In relation to businesses that engage the service of agents or contractors, it is important to ensure there is a written contract in place, so both parties know the clearly defined terms of any agreement between them.
Self-employed contractors or agents are usually engaged under what is known as a ‘contract for services’ or ‘consultancy agreement’.
A contract for services is used when a freelance contractor provides a specific service to a company, such as accountancy or marketing.
A consultancy agreement is when a consultant provides advice or services to a company to improve performance in a specific area, such as finance or information technology.
Contracts can be issued by a self-employed contractor or the business they are serving.
In some cases, we recommend that contracts include a ‘no mutual obligations’ clause so that neither party is obligated to provide or accept work and there is no remuneration for work not undertaken. In addition, confidentiality clauses may need to be included and non-competition or other restrictive covenants to protect any sensitive trade secrets or client and supplier information.
