Can I use an Employment Contract that I previously signed for my start-up business?

[basildon]

Hi,

I worked for a company that dismissed me ( unfairly I felt ) and I took the matter to the ET.

The ET found against me and I was looking to start-up a similar company myself.

Can I use the contract that was used by my former employer in court against me or would that be a copyright infringement?

Thanks

[allcry]

No copyright from company unless it says so on the contract. Most contracts are templated by lawyers. You would have understand terms of the contract. And remove any references to the wrong company.

PS tribunals are not always right.

[basildon]

Thanks ALLCRY. There was a part of it that the ET felt I misunderstood. Would they be able to retrospectively copyright it? The company in question is a FTSE 250 company and as a start-up the cost of having it written from scratch would be prohibitive.

[ULA]

Contracts of employment for most staff (except when you get to senion/executive levle) are pretty similar and can easily be found in template form online. You need to ensure that the employment contract suits your company, its ethos, covers the employment relationship you want with your staff and is fair and reasonable.