Employment Contracts and Policies

Employment Contracts and Policies

At The Jonathan Lea Network, our experienced employment law solicitors provide tailored advice and drafting services for employment contracts, consultancy agreements, and workplace policies. Whether you’re an employer seeking robust legal protection or an employee looking to understand or negotiate your terms, we’re here to help you establish and maintain compliant and productive working relationships.

Why Employment Contracts Matter

An employment contract is a legally binding agreement between an employer and an
employee. It sets out the essential terms of the working relationship, such as:

● Job title and responsibilities
● Working hours and location
● Salary, benefits, and bonuses
● Holiday entitlement
● Notice periods and termination rights
● Confidentiality obligations
● Post-termination restrictions (e.g. non-competes)

For employers, well-drafted contracts minimise legal risk, clarify expectations, and protect business interests. For employees, contracts offer transparency and certainty over their rights and duties.

We work with clients across all sectors to create legally sound and commercially viable contracts that stand up to scrutiny.

Our Services for Employers

Drafting and Reviewing Contracts

We don’t rely on off-the-shelf templates. We tailor employment contracts to suit the specific needs of your business. Whether you are hiring junior staff, senior executives, or independent contractors, we’ll ensure the terms are fit for purpose, enforceable, and aligned with your commercial goals.

Our contract drafting services include:

● Executive service agreements
● Fixed-term and part-time contracts
● Consultancy and contractor agreements
● Bonus and incentive scheme clauses
● IP, confidentiality, and restrictive covenant provisions

Updating Existing Documentation

Employment law is constantly evolving. Regularly reviewing your contracts and policies ensures continued compliance. We can audit and revise your existing documentation to reflect legislative updates, best practices, and operational changes within your business.

Policy Drafting & Staff Handbooks

We assist in preparing bespoke workplace policies and handbooks that reinforce your company’s values, culture, and legal obligations. These typically include:

● Disciplinary and grievance procedures
● Equal opportunities and anti-harassment policies
● Health and safety policies
● Flexible working, remote working, and employee monitoring protocols
● Anti-bribery and whistleblowing procedures
● Social media and data protection policies

Policies can be contractually binding or non-binding depending on the degree of flexibility you wish to retain. We will advise on the best format for your business.

“HC Refresh” Handbook Updating Service

Keeping up with changes in the law can be a challenge. Our “HC Refresh” service offers:

● An initial audit of your existing handbook
● Updates to align with current legislation and case law
● Ongoing maintenance to ensure compliance and reduce HR risk

Our Services for Employees

If you’re starting a new role, considering a move, or facing changes to your current contract, we can support you by:

Contract Review & Negotiation

We offer a clear, pragmatic review of proposed or existing contracts, highlighting any unusual or restrictive clauses. We provide advice on:

● Salary and benefits
● Bonus structures and share options
● Intellectual property ownership
● Probation and termination terms
● Post-employment restrictions (non-competes, non-solicits, etc.)

This is particularly valuable for:

● Senior executives
● Directors and board members
● Consultants
● Professionals in finance, legal, and healthcare sectors

Contract Changes and Disputes

If your employer seeks to make unilateral changes to your contract, this may amount to a breach of contract. We can:

● Advise on your rights and potential remedies
● Help negotiate alternative terms
● Support you in cases of constructive dismissal

Understanding Your Employment Status

In today’s gig economy, many individuals are engaged on self-employed contracts that may not reflect the true nature of their relationship with the organisation. We help clarify your status and advise whether you may be entitled to employee rights such as paid holiday, sick pay, or pension contributions.

Restrictive Covenants & Post-Termination Clauses

Restrictive covenants are clauses in your contract that limit your activities after employment ends, such as:

● Working for competitors
● Soliciting clients or staff
● Using confidential information

To be enforceable, these clauses must be reasonable in scope and duration. We regularly advise on:

● Reviewing enforceability of restrictive covenants
● Negotiating their removal or reduction
● Defending or enforcing claims relating to breach of restrictions

Key Clauses Every Employer Should Include

Some vital provisions are not implied by law and must be explicitly included in a contract.

These include:

● Confidentiality and data protection
● IP ownership and trade secrets
● Right to make deductions from salary
● Pay in lieu of notice (PILON)
● Garden leave provisions
● Monitoring and surveillance authorisation

Including such clauses properly can protect your commercial interests and improve enforceability in case of legal challenges.

Our Approach

We take the time to understand your specific needs—there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Our services include:

● ✅ One-off drafting or review projects
● ✅ Retained legal support for ongoing HR needs
● ✅ Fixed-fee packages or flexible hourly rates
● ✅ A track record of resolving disputes efficiently and favourably
● ✅ In-person or remote consultations available across the UK

Whether you’re a fast-growing startup or an established corporation, we aim to deliver clear, commercially focused legal advice to support your workforce strategy

Get In Touch

If you would like to speak to our Employment Law team to receive tailored advice regarding your employment contracts, consultancy agreements and workplace policies, please do call or email us today.

👉 Get in touch with our Employment Law team
📞 Call us on 01444 708 640
📧 Email us at wewillhelp@jonathanlea.net