A Fort Madison, Iowa employment contract is an agreement where the employer and employee each intend to legally bind the other to particular conditions in the work relationship. Iowa contracts are typically negotiable since both employer and employee benefit from an agreement that is tailored to their specific work setting. Employment contracts specifying a term of employment provide employees with some measure of job security if conditions are satisfied. They further permit the employer to directly control employee productivity to some degree.

Common Terms in Iowa Employment Contracts

The majority of employment contracts in the state of Iowa include the following: salary or wages, job descriptions, duration of employment (if any - most are at will), and termination/advancement grounds. However, there are also other, less common, clauses that are worthy of notice. First, an arbitration clause requires parties to forego their rights to access the courts for any employment dispute.

Second, a severance clause or "termination clause" outlines the process for ending the employment. Courts have held employers liable for wrongful termination when violating such clauses. Additionally, work that is completed by an employee, or information obtained by them are covered in clauses known as confidentiality clauses and non-compete clauses.

How Can a Fort Madison Lawyer Help?

Fort Madison lawyers who specialize employment laws for the state of Iowa can help you out in understanding the contents of any given employment contract. A lawyer can also lend counsel about what is fair to you in the contract, and can negotiate particular terms that will address your specific concerns as you enter or leave employment.