In Watertown, 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

The majority of employment contracts in the state of Massachusetts include the following: salary or wages, job descriptions, length of employment (if any - most are at will), and termination/advancement grounds. Nonetheless, 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.

Moreover, the procedures for ending employment can be stated in a "termination clause". Courts may hold an employer who violates such clauses liable for wrongful termination. Thirdly, non-compete clauses and confidentiality clauses make the information or work obtained or completed by contract employees subject to particular rules.

How Can a Watertown Lawyer Help?

An Watertown attorney specializing in Massachusetts employment law may help you to understand what a given employment contract contains. An attorney will also counsel you in obtaining what is fair to you in the contract terms, and they can help negotiate agreements addressing your needs as you begin or terminate employment.