In Berkley, Massachusetts, an employment contract is agreement between an employer and employee which legally binds them to conditions specified in the work relationship. Most Massachusetts employment contracts can be negotiable since both parties benefit from a suitable agreement that is unique to their circumstances. Employees with an employment contract specified a time of employment are provided with a guarantee of job security if conditions of the contract are met, and it allows their managers to have some type of control over productivity.

Common Terms in Massachusetts Employment Contracts

An employment contract in Massachusetts will typically provide for the following terms: job position description, compensation, duration of employment period (or at-will), and grounds for promotion/termination. 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, the contract can contain a termination clause, also known as a "severance clause". Courts have held that employers who violate these clauses when firing a person may be sued for wrongful termination. Also, non-compete clauses and confidentiality clauses make the information or work obtained or completed by contract employees subject to specific rules.

How Can a Berkley Lawyer Help?

Berkley lawyers who specialize employment laws for the state of Massachusetts can help you out in understanding the contents of any given employment contract. You may also get advice from a lawyer about fairness in the contract terms, and they will negotiate specific clauses that will meet your needs in beginning or ending employment.