Implied duties

There are certain duties that are central to any employment contract. These are sometimes called 'imposed duties'.

The main duties are:

• duty of care
• duty of trust and confidence
• duty of fidelity

These duties:

• are crucial to a good working relationship
• help employers and workers work together effectively
• also apply when someone is not working but is still employed – for example, when they're on holiday or off sick
• cannot be overridden by any express term in the contract

If either the employer or worker breaches one of these duties, it can damage or even end the working relationship.