What is the difference between an employment contract and an employment agreement?
Employment contracts and employment agreements are both legal documents that usually cover the relationship between an employer and employee. However, there are some important differences between the two. An employment contract is a legally binding document that outlines the terms of a person’s employment. This type of agreement can be negotiated by both parties in order to make sure the terms are fair and agreeable to both. An employment contract typically includes information such as the length of employment, employee benefits, job expectations, and salary. It also includes any potential consequences for breaking the agreement or for any other infractions. An employment agreement is different from an employment contract in that it is not necessarily a legally binding document. An employment agreement is more of a “gentleman’s agreement,” and is usually less formal than an employment contract. This type of agreement covers the same aspects of employment as a contract, but the agreement is often just an exchange of promises between employer and employee. In Washington, both employment contracts and employment agreements must be in writing to be legally recognized. It is important to remember, however, that while an employment agreement is not legally binding, it can still have serious consequences if either party breaks the agreement.
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