Contract of Employment

All employees must be given a written statement of specified terms of employment by law within 8 weeks of starting work. The aim of a contract of employment is to clearly outline the responsibilities of you, the employer, and the role and expectations of the personal assistant. The contract is legally binding, and you can put more or less what you like into it as long as it is reasonable, within the law, and both parties agree. A contract can be written, oral, implied or a mixture of all three. Implied terms might include those that are too obvious to be agreed, such as honesty.

However, it is advisable that the contract should be written down so both the employer and the PA are clear about terms and conditions.

 A basic contract of employment should contain

Ø Who the employer is

Ø Who the employee is

Ø Hours and rate of pay

Ø Holiday and sick pay

Ø Notice of leaving

Ø Grievance/Disciplinary procedures

Ø A description of the job

Ø Place of work

An employer support service may be able to offer a standard contract. They may also have other examples of contracts and can support and advise you should you wish to modify or produce your own. 

It is advisable for people who are employing P.A.’s to initially put their personal assistants on a 3-month probationary contract that limits the notice they need to give to you or you need to give to them to one week.

You may find that your needs change, and therefore the terms and conditions of your PA’s employment may change. It is wise to include provisions allowing the employer to make important changes, for example ‘There maybe periods of time when there is a shortage of work…’ Either you or the PA can seek to renegotiate, or change, the contract.

Once you have both agreed and signed the contract then you become an employer.