Introduction
An employment contract is an agreement between the employer and the employee. It clearly illustrates the rights, duties, and responsibilities of both the employer and the worker. According to the Compact Law (2015), an employer is legally bound to provide employment terms to the employee within the first 2 months of employment.
However, employment conditions do not necessarily contribute to establishing a better working relationship between the employer and the worker (Mahammed 2014).
As indicated in the Compact Law (2015), a detailed employment contract that includes employee’s duties and responsibilities helps in strengthening the bond between the employer and the worker. This paper critically explains why the inclusion of duties and responsibilities in an employee’s employment contract is fundamental to a productive relationship between the employer and the employee.
Employee’s Rights and Responsibilities
According to the Compact Law (2015), an employment contract is typically divided into several sections that specify the various rights and responsibilities that an employee enjoys while at work. The employment contract states the specific workplace that the employee will be stationed, as well as the possibility of being moved to other places in the future.
This right minimizes the conflict that may arise in case the employer wishes to transfer the employee to a different location, either temporarily or permanently. According to the Compact Law (2015), an employee is entitled to a specific number of work hours, breaks, work/rest days, etc. However, the employment contract provides for the employee working more hours during special occasions. It reduces disputes related to work hours, breaks, and rest days.
The employment contract specifies the period in which an employee will be under probation (Mahammed 2014). The employer may confirm the employee or dismiss him/her when that period expires, depending on the conduct and performance of the employee while under probation. If a dismissal arises after a probation period, then the employee is not engaged in unnecessary disputes with the employer.
The contract indicates the wages that the employee is to be paid. There is also a provision for increasing the salary after a specified period, depending on the performance of the employee (Mahammed 2014). According to the University of Salford (2015), an employer has to make sure that the salary paid is not below the minimum wage scale set by the government. Therefore, managers have good relations with their employees if they pay salaries on time and implement increments as stipulated in the contract.
The employees are entitled to several leaves, including annual leave, sick leave, and maternity/paternity leave. If both the employer and the employee agree on these leaves, then it works for strengthening their relationship. Consequently, the quality of work improves. The employment contract should stipulate the conditions for dismissal and the period required to issue a notice to both the parties (University of Salford 2015). Therefore, there is no room for disputes if the due process is followed in issuing a notice or dismissal.
It is the employee’s right to have a safe working environment. An employer, thus, agrees in the employment contract that employees’ safety is paramount to avoid injuries and accidents at the workplace. Fair deductions should be made in the employee’s salary as stipulated in the employment contract (Compact Law 2015).
An employer is mandated by the law to deduct some amount of money from the employee’s salary to go to the government as a tax. However, an employer should not deduct money from the pay of an employee for unfair purposes, such as buying of workers’ uniforms. Following this regulation enhances a better relationship between the employer and the worker.
According to the University of Salford (2015), the company should maintain the confidentiality of the workers, as stipulated in the contract, to enhance better working relations. Every employee is responsible for carrying out their duties as specified in the job description. The employee is also responsible for protecting the company’s property at all times. According to the Compact Law (2015), the relationship between the employer and the employee is enhanced if both parties involved carry out their responsibilities as required.
Conclusion
An employee’s employment contract forms a foundation for better relations between the employer and the worker. Various rights and responsibilities stipulated in the contract are to smoothen operations in an organisation. Some of the rights of an employee that are specified in the contract include a proper job description, safe workplace, the number of hours that an employee should work in a day, leave entitlement, amount of salary to be paid, deductions to be made, and the right to confidentiality.
On the other hand, employees are tasked with the responsibility of ensuring that they do what is stipulated in the job description. Employees are also responsible for taking care of the company’s property, including equipment and machinery. Following set rights and responsibilities is the key to ensuring a sound relationship between management and employees, which is also paramount for organizational success.
Reference List
Compact Law 2015, Employment contracts: What should be included. Web.
Mahammed, C 2014, Business guide and employment role, Author House UK Ltd., Bloomington.
The University of Salford 2015, Your employment rights and responsibility. Web.