Employment contracts | Acas

Employment contracts and the law

What an employment contract is and what the different types of terms are.

Written statements

What must be in writing when an employee starts their job.

Implied duties

What duties are implied into an employment contract, including duty of care, trust and confidence and fidelity.

Changing an employment contract

Advice for employers and employees on making changes to employment contracts.

Employment status

How to work out employment status and how it affects employment rights.

Termination of an employment contract

How an employee or employer can end ('terminate') an employment contract. Resignation, dismissals and redundancy.

Zero-hours contracts

Your rights and the employer's responsibilities when you have a casual or zero-hours contract.

Agency workers

What an employment agency must give you when you register with them and start work with them.

Part-time workers

The rights under the law for part-time employees and workers.

Apprentices

What rights apprentices have, including pay, working hours and written statements.

Non-disclosure agreements

When non-disclosure agreements might be used and when they cannot be enforced.