You’ve been searching for a new position for several weeks now. Finally, you landed an interview and it went well. You’ve been offered a position that appears to match your skills and experience. The remuneration and terms offered verbally were even better than you’d hoped for.
While verbal agreements can be legally binding, you really want to see the terms in front of you on paper. Here’s why it’s so important to read your employment contract before you sign it.
Planning your work-life balance
While you need to work to bring income into the household, you need to balance this with your personal life. A written contract will contain provisions relating to the number of hours you are expected to work each week. It should also include whether or not you are expected to work on the weekends, or at unsociable hours.
Confirming your pay and benefits
The verbal offer regarding your pay was music to your ears, but there is nothing quite like seeing it in writing. Your employment contract should outline your hourly rate or salary, as well as any performance bonuses you can expect to receive. There should also be information in there about health benefits, holiday pay, sick pay and travel expenses.
Contracts offer you security
Written contracts should secure everything that has been offered to you verbally. If terms don’t match up, then you can query them with management. You should never be coerced into signing an agreement or misled in any way. If you have questions about your rights as an employee in Ohio, seeking legal guidance will be in your best interests.