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A Detailed Overview of the Employment Agreement in New Hampshire
As an employer, you must protect your interests when hiring new employees. An employment agreement in New Hampshire will come in handy to ensure your trade secrets and confidential information are protected from employee abuse.
The contract will also ensure you have an excellent employer-employee relationship, which can be crucial to the success of your business.
What is a New Hampshire Employment Agreement?
An employment agreement is a legal contract between the employer and the employee. The contract defines the terms of employment and outlines other details aimed at creating a perfect employment relationship.
The work-employment contract outlines and protects the rights of both parties. It is legally binding, meaning there are legal consequences if one of the parties breaches their side of the bargain. So, both parties work harmoniously, minimizing the chances of disputes.
A legally binding New Hampshire employment document can have the following basic information;
- Employer and employee information
- Job title
- Employee duties and responsibilities
- Compensation and benefits
- Company policies and standards
- Disciplinary procedures
- Employment commencement date
- Duration of the employment
- Time off
- Non-obligation clause
- Probationary period
- Terms of termination
Note that employment contracts in New Hampshire are different. Some are used when hiring permanent employees, while others are used when hiring contractors/subcontractors. So, the details in these contracts can vary.
Are Employment Contracts Enforceable in New Hampshire?
Employment agreements that adhere to contract laws are enforceable. The contracts must have clear terms of employment that do not violate employee's rights. In addition, the terms of employment must be fair to both parties to ensure a win-win situation even when the contract is terminated.
It is important to note that New Hampshire is an at-will employment state. That means an employer can fire an employee for almost any reason. An employee can also terminate the contract at any time.
However, with a well-created staff employment contract outlining reasons for contract termination, an employee cannot be fired for any reason. They are only fired for reasons described in the contract, protecting employees from unfair dismissal.
However, suppose you don't have a written employment agreement in New Hampshire. In that case, it will be assumed that the employee is on an at-will employment arrangement and can be terminated by the employer at any time without a valid cause.
The Legal Requirements for New Employment Contracts
New Hampshire is strict when it comes to legal requirements for employment documents and agreements. The state requires that all employment contracts be written, but there are exceptions where oral contracts are recognized and enforced.
However, you should know that oral contracts are challenging to prove, so they are often not enforced in New Hampshire.
The state requires companies/employers to provide written job offers. In addition, any changes to the contract terms should also be put in writing. Without a written and signed contract, the work arrangement is assumed to be at-will, meaning either party can terminate the contract for any reason.
Common Types of Employment Contracts in New Hampshire
There are many types of employment agreements, and here are the main options.
- A non-disclosure agreement prohibits employees from divulging valuable information about their employer for their use.
- Independent contractor agreement is a contract used to outline the agreed-upon terms between a client and contractor.
- A non-compete agreement prevents an employee from working for or establishing a competing company/business.
- A subcontractor agreement is used by a contractor when hiring a subcontractor to complete a specific assignment.
Are you looking to create an employment contract in New Hampshire but don’t know how? Simply take advantage of the free New Hampshire employment agreement templates offered by Forms.legal. You can access these forms anywhere and anytime.
Also check employment bond for 1 year and written contract of employment templates here.