In Rochester, Massachusetts, an employment contract is agreement between an employer and employee which legally binds them to conditions stated in the work relationship. Many Massachusetts employment contracts can be negotiable since both parties benefit from a suitable agreement that is unique to their circumstances. Employment contracts specifying a period 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 Massachusetts Employment Contracts

Terms that are included in the majority of employment contracts in Massachusetts include the job description, salary or wages, length of employment (or if it at will) and grounds for termination or advancement. Some clauses are less common but still worthy of being noted. First, the contract may contain an arbitration clause which requires that parties forgo going to court over an employment dispute.

Additionally, 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. Moreover, non-compete clauses and confidentiality clauses make the information or work obtained or completed by contract employees subject to certain rules.

How Can a Rochester Lawyer Help?

An Rochester attorney specializing in Massachusetts employment law may help you to understand what a given employment contract contains. Also, a lawyer will advise you about what you think is fair in the employment contract, and they can negotiate the specifics when you enter or leave employment.