Charles McGuinness joins Kathryn to talk about some of the things to look for before you sign an employment agreement with a new employer. 

Listen to the interview here or see below for Charles' five key tips. 

1. Redundancy Compensation is not required by law. Any redundancy compensation is a contractual entitlement that is expressly agreed between an employer and individual employees. If you think you might stick around with your employer, it might be worth discussing whether a clause that protects you financially in the case of a redundancy might be agreed.  

2. Trial Periods are often used in modern employment agreements. If used properly these clauses can take away your right to take a claim for unjustified dismissal. These clauses are not required by law and they do not have to extend for a full 90-days. If there is a trial period clause in your employment agreement you might want to discuss with your prospective employer whether a trial period is really necessary. 

3. Workplace Culture and Values are a very important to consider and ask about when you are thinking about accepting a job offer. It might be worth checking whether the prospective employer has a values statement or code of conduct that could be referred back to if issues arise in the future.

4. Remuneration and Benefits, employees will often be promised certain benefits if they reach particular milestones or achievements. However, if made verbally, such promises can sometimes be ambiguous and difficult to enforce. If there are promises being made, make sure they are in the employment agreement. 

5. Restraint of Trades are often slipped into employment agreements and can sometimes catch employees off guard at the end of their employment. Employees should consider what could happen if restraints of trade are enforced when they resign or are terminated and seek professional advice if they are concerned. 

These are only a few key things to look out for when entering into a new employment agreement. If you are entering into new employment and want to make sure that you are protected, do not hesitate to reach out to info@mcguinnesslaw.co.nz, or call 04 212 0024.