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Have you ever wondered what employment lawyers actually do, especially in today’s ever-evolving employment landscape?
As a business owner, it is vital that you get your legals right – particularly in employment contracts – to ensure that your organisation remains robust and compliant in 2025. For further guidance on the legal essentials for your business, please check out our Business Legal Essentials guide.
Employment lawyers can be invaluable to your business when it comes to drafting, reviewing and updating employment contracts to reflect current legislation and best practices.
Read on to learn more about the key elements of a solid employment contract and how an employment lawyer can help you navigate the legal landscape in 2025.
First, What Are Employment Contracts?
Employment contracts are legally binding agreements between employers and employees that set out the terms and conditions of employment. In 2025, these contracts now also frequently address modern working practices, such as remote or hybrid work arrangements and updated statutory leave provisions.
They are vital to the working relationship between employers and employees, providing clarity and mutual protection should any disputes or breaches arise.
Generally, employment contracts are in writing and signed by both parties, offering protection if expectations are not met. Ensuring that your business’s employment contracts are of an adequate standard is pivotal for your business’s longevity and reputation.
A legally sound employment contract provides legal certainty, mitigates risk and offers avenues for recourse if necessary. It’s essential that these documents are regularly reviewed to reflect any changes in the law or your business model.
What Is The Role Of An Employment Lawyer?
Employment lawyers help you draft employment contracts and conduct comprehensive reviews to ensure compliance with the latest legal developments. They are adept at identifying potential pitfalls and advising on necessary updates that reflect recent amendments to employment legislation.
As discussed, an employment contract is an agreement between you and your employee, outlining the terms such as their duties, remuneration and the procedures to follow if issues arise. In today’s market, contracts also increasingly cover modern topics like remote working expectations and digital security measures.
It is imperative that these contracts are carefully drafted and periodically reviewed. Engaging qualified, experienced and knowledgeable employment lawyers can be pivotal to ensuring your business operations remain legally secure and that you stay informed about any new statutory requirements, for example with updates to pension auto-enrolment thresholds and statutory leave rights in 2025.
So, you might be wondering: what exactly goes into an employment contract and how can an employment lawyer help you with this? Let’s break it down.
As we progress through 2025, the employment landscape is more dynamic than ever. With the rise of hybrid working models, evolving pension and tax regulations, and continuous updates to health and safety requirements, having up-to-date, robust contracts is critical. A skilled employment lawyer ensures that your contracts not only meet current legal standards but also safeguard your business interests while promoting a positive workplace culture. For further insights, you can also read our Employment Law articles.
6 Key Elements Of An Employment Contract And How An Employment Lawyer Can Help
An employment contract includes many important elements that require detailed consideration. Your business’s contracts should be tailored to each employee engagement and cover every essential base.
Having an employment lawyer assist with drafting and reviewing your contracts will help ensure they are comprehensive, compliant and reflective of the current legal landscape.
Some key elements that must be considered and implemented properly include:
1. Description of Role, Tasks and Duties
Your contract should provide a clear and detailed description of the role, tasks and duties expected from the employee. In 2025, it is also advisable to include any responsibilities associated with remote or hybrid working environments.
An employment lawyer will ensure that these descriptions are reasonable, legally compliant and tailored to the specific obligations of the role, avoiding ambiguous language that could lead to disputes.
2. Salary, Payslips, PAYE Tax and Pension Contributions
Your employment contract should clearly state the employee’s salary, the frequency of payslips and details regarding PAYE tax and auto-enrolment pension contributions. When determining salary, it is vital that you adhere to the National Minimum Wage requirements – which may vary depending on the employee’s age and circumstances – as well as to the mandates of the Equality Act 2010 and any subsequent amendments.
As legislative standards evolve, engaging an employment lawyer ensures your contracts remain updated and compliant with all current requirements, protecting both you and your employees.
3. Leave Entitlements
An employment contract should detail all leave entitlements, including holiday, sick leave and any special leave provisions. In 2025, with the increasing adoption of flexible and remote working arrangements, it is important that these entitlements also reflect new working patterns and any enhanced statutory rights.
An employment lawyer will ensure that the leave provisions are accurate and align with the latest legal standards, be your employee permanent, fixed-term or casual (read more on the differences between casual and part-time workers).
4. Confidentiality
A robust confidentiality clause is essential to protect your business’s sensitive information and trade secrets. In an era where data breaches are increasingly common, ensuring that employees understand and commit to confidentiality is more important than ever.
Employment lawyers can advise on the specific language required to make confidentiality clauses both enforceable and effective.
5. Termination Rights and Breach of Contract
Termination and breach clauses must be drafted to protect your business if the employment relationship does not proceed as planned. This includes outlining the process for termination, notice periods, and the consequences of breaching contractual terms.
An employment lawyer will ensure these clauses are clear, fair, and consistent with the latest employment legislation, safeguarding your organisation against potential disputes.
6. Work Policies and Procedures
Your business’s policies and procedures – including health and safety, remote working protocols, and digital security measures – must be clearly communicated in your employment contracts. This not only ensures that employees understand their obligations but also helps to protect your business by establishing clear expectations.
Employment lawyers can help draft, update and review these clauses to ensure they remain compliant with evolving regulatory requirements and reflect best practice for modern workplaces.
Thinking Of Engaging An Employment Lawyer?
Evidently, engaging an employment lawyer can significantly benefit your business by ensuring that your employment contracts are not only comprehensive and legally robust but also in tune with the latest developments in employment law. This attention to detail can safeguard your business from legal risks while providing clarity and security for your employees.
It is essential that your employment contracts are meticulously drafted and routinely updated. An employment lawyer can assist with both creating new contracts and reviewing existing ones to ensure that your legal obligations as an employer are fully met. For additional insights, you might also explore our employment law articles.
At Sprintlaw, our team of experienced lawyers is ready to help you with drafting or reviewing employment contracts to give your business greater legal certainty, protect you from risk, and ensure you have sound recourse if disputes arise. Engaging a Sprintlaw employment lawyer is a proactive step toward safeguarding your business in today’s challenging environment.
Have More Questions?
Wrapping your head around employment contracts can be a tricky task, especially with the constant changes in legislation. We are here to help you navigate these complexities.
Reach out to our team for a free, no-obligations chat at [email protected] or call us on +44(0)2034321860. Whether you need new contracts drafted or existing ones updated to reflect 2025’s legal landscape, we’ve got you covered.
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