You’re so excited about receiving a job offer that you rush to sign your employment contract and provide the necessary paperwork to your new employer.
While it’s okay to feel excitement, don’t sign an employment contract without first carefully reviewing the finer details. The last thing you want is to find that you signed something you don’t agree with.
Every term and condition of an employment contract deserves your attention, but these details should typically move to the top of your priority list:
- Job description: Make sure the job description in your employment contract aligns with the job you applied for and what you were told during the interview process. For example, you don’t want to assume you’re being hired as a sales manager, just to find that your description better suits that of a sales representative.
- Compensation: Cross check the compensation portion of your employment contract against what you negotiated during the hiring process. Compensation includes your salary or hourly wage, along with bonuses and commission payouts.
- Benefits: Not only should you review the benefits included in your contract, but make sure you understand them before you sign on the dotted line. Language regarding benefits is notoriously difficult to understand, so it’s okay to ask for clarification.
- Non-compete agreement: If you’re asked to sign this as part of your employment contract, you must know exactly how it could affect you in the future. It doesn’t seem like a big deal up front, but it can turn into one should you lose your job or decide to move on from the company.
- Grounds for termination: You don’t expect to have your position terminated in the future, but it could happen. Understanding the grounds for termination will help you prevent trouble in the future, while also protecting your legal rights.
There is no better feeling than receiving a job offer and employment contract. Just remember to review it thoroughly before agreeing to the terms and conditions, as you don’t want to put yourself in a compromising position in the future.
In the event that your employer has breached your employment contract, such as through a wrongful termination, discuss your concerns with the HR department and learn more about your legal rights for taking action.