Text by TEK / Translation by Ian Tuomi
What is a contract of employment?
A contract of employment is a way of agreeing on the terms at which the employee offers services to the employer. The content of the contract of employment is effected by three parties: the law, the collective labor agreement (TES), and the contract between employee and employer.
How to prepare?
Find out the usual wage for similar positions with your education. TEK labor market research gives a good impression of wage development.
Big companies often have the same terms for all summer workers and trainees. Consider your own conditions. Is certain work experience more important than a good wage?
Employment contracts should always be in written form. A spoken agreement is valid, but validating the terms agreed on will be hard if not written down. Regular working hours should always be specified in the contract. There can be no more than eight hours per day and 40 hours per week.
Tough years of study call for some time off. If you want to have a summer holiday, discuss with your employer about a paid or unpaid vacation.
Before signing a contract there is reason to check for ambiguities. It is not advisable to leave terms unnegotiated. Finding common ground after signing the contract can be hard.
Did you know this about contracts of employment?
Temporary contracts should state the date of termination and the reason for the fixed term (for example, substitution, internship or summer work). A temporary contract cannot be terminated before it is over, unless specifically agreed on.
Summer work or other short-term work contracts usually have no trial period. For indefinite contracts, terms often include trial periods. During the trial period the contract can be terminated by both parties without a period of notice.
If some collective agreement is applicable to the work relationship, it must be mentioned in the contract. Ask your employer what agreement applies. If no agreement is applied, any terms important to you must be on the contract, such as holiday bonuses and travel expense compensation. Otherwise there are no guarantees they are applied.
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