“Usually, it’s all the same.” “I was in haste.” These are some common reasons most people give when things go wrong, and they’re asked why they didn’t leaf through their work contracts.
So many of us just briefly glance through the contract. When a problem arises, we’re left feeling bewildered since we’re clueless about our contractual rights or the action taken in case of contravention of the clause.
However, here are 3 things that employees take as a word but are apocryphal:
1. Every employment provision is laid out on paper:
A contract’s clauses may not always be written on a single paper. They’re sometimes drawn up from other lexical or written sources.
The terms can be either ‘express’ or ‘implied.’ The former include clauses regarding your holidays, working hours, salary, sick leaves, job title. You need to check for these terms on every document related to your jobs, such as the job classifieds, payslip, or your work contract itself.
Implied terms are those that are incorporated into your contract by law or common practice, including conditions regarding your duties as an employee, the trust between two parties, company’s decision to offer bonuses annually.
These terms may not be explicitly expressed but are more tacit, and action can be taken in violation.
2. The company doesn’t have the right to relocate me if I disagree:
Do NOT overlook this term. If there is a “mobility clause” mentioned in your employment contract, then, by all means, your employer can move you to another location as per the confines outlined in the contract despite your protest. They might even deny payment.
Nevertheless, if no such clause is set out in the contract, you can refuse without facing any consequences. You will still be paid your wages.
3. I’ll be allowed to work through my notice period when I resign:
Most employees believe that they’d work their notice period. However, since your employer typically has the rights reserved, he could alternately pay you or send you off on garden leave for the entire notice period.
Employees who are off work for a certain period are often less preferred by their prospective employees, but once you’ve put down your papers, or the company decides to fire you, they would try and get rid of you at the earliest.
You will not be allowed to go against this decision. If you’re put on garden leave, you cannot even join another company until the notice period is over.