What is a Michigan Employment Contract?
A Michigan employment contract, sometimes called an employment agreement is a legally binding document that is entered into by an employer and a new employee hired to work for a company. This agreement establishes the rights and obligations of each party throughout the employment relationship.
It is common to find the following issues negotiated in an employment contract:
- Compensation
- Job title and list of duties
- Employee benefits
- Employment start date
- Duration of employment
- Procedures for discipline and grievances
- Causes for termination
Michigan is an “at will” employment state. This means that all working relationships are considered to be “at the will” of both parties. An employee can leave a job at any time for any reason and likewise, an employer can fire an employee at any time for any reason.
There are two exceptions to the at will employment rule: the public policy exception and the implied contract exception.
Public policy exception. Prevents an employer from firing an employee if the termination involves an employee’s compliance with state laws like refusing to commit a crime or exercising a legal right.
Implied contract exception. Prevents an employer from firing an employee when there is an implied contract between the parties. An implied contract is created based on the representations and conduct of the parties and doesn’t require a written document.
Outside of these two exceptions, the only way to an employee can protect their job is to have a legally enforceable employment contract that outlines specific causes for termination.
Are Employment Contracts Enforceable in Michigan?
Yes. Employment contracts are enforceable in Michigan, but certain provisions of employment contracts must follow state laws to be enforceable. The employment contract clauses that are most regulated are restrictive covenants that limit an employee’s ability for future employment like a non-competition clause.
A non-competition clause prohibits an employee from working for a company’s competitor or starting a competing business after ending their employment. To be enforceable in Michigan, non-compete agreements must be reasonable. A reasonable clause will balance the need to protect an employer’s business interests without depriving an employee of their right to work and earn a living.
Courts will determine reasonableness based on the following factors:
- Type of employment. The non-compete cannot be overly broad in limiting employment opportunities.
- Geographic area. Non-compete agreements must define a geographic area that the employee cannot work within. If this area is too large, it will be deemed unreasonable.
- Duration. Michigan Courts have consistently ruled that non-compete agreements with durations exceeding three years are unreasonable. The most common reasonable duration is one year.
- Legitimate business interest. The employer must show that the non-compete serves a legitimate business interest like protecting trade secrets or customer lists.
What Are the Legal Requirements for Michigan Employment Contracts?
The legal requirements for Michigan employment contracts are very lenient. An employment contract does not have to be in writing. As long as one of the parties can prove the terms of a contract, oral employment contracts are legally enforceable.
In addition, clauses in employee handbooks may also constitute as an employment contract and give rise to certain legal rights for employees. For this reason, employers should include language in their handbook that states that the document is not a contract.
Types of Michigan Employment Contracts
There are several types of employment contracts commonly used in Michigan including:
- Permanent employment contract. Used by a company to hire a permanent employee with regular hours and compensation.
- Fixed term employment contract. Used when hiring employees who will only work for a specific period or to complete a specific job.
- Contractor agreement. Any worker who is not considered a legal employee will fall into the category of a contractor, consultant, or freelancer. These types of workers are subject to different rights and laws than regular employees.
See Employment Contract by State
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- Georgia
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- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
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- Michigan
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- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Meet some of our Michigan Employment Contract Lawyers
Jesse A.
General practice attorney with experience in civil litigation, family law, criminal law, estate planning, business formation, real estate and business transactions.
June 20, 2023
David M.
Michigan and USPTO licensed attorney with over 20 years of experience on counseling clients in the fields of intellectual property, transactional law, technology involvement, negotiations, and business litigation.
July 27, 2023
Julie G.
I graduated from Wayne State University in 1992 and was admitted to practice in Michigan the same year. I've been practicing in Traverse City since 1993. My goal is for clients to feel that I am accessible and prompt, while providing quality and affordable legal services.
December 12, 2023
Alexis L.
I am an attorney in Michigan. I attended Boston College for my undergraduate degree and Suffolk University Law School for my law degree. I have been practicing law for over 20 years.
December 28, 2023
Karen C.
I have approximately 15 years of attorney practice in IL and MI, doing both transactional and litigation work. I am currently licensed in MI and will be taking the CO bar in February. I am open to discussing paralegal or law clerk positions as I've not practiced law full-time since 2015. I worked as a residential realtor from 2015 until I moved to CO in 2021. I took the UBE in July 2023. I am qualified to become licensed in Utah, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Indiana. I missed the mark for CO by 5 points. I should be licensed to practice law in CO by April 2024.
February 7, 2024
Nuo Jia (Lois) L.
Attorney Lois Li is a bilingual business and commercial attorney licensed in Michigan, U.S. since 2014, in Ontario, Canada since 2015, and in New York, U.S. since 2020. As an attorney licensed in two countries, Lois leads Alpine Law’s US/China/Canada practice. She is experienced in legal and contractual transactions in both English and Chinese. Lois has over six years of experience in assisting clients with business operations and legal services, and is specialized in advising companies with legal needs in International Business, Securities law, Cryptocurrency – Block chain, and Fin-Tech. Having served as both an outside and an in-house counsel, Lois worked with many startup and small businesses. With a strong understanding of core business and the ability to translate business needs into legal requirements, Lois has assisted many companies to establish policies and procedures, and drafted and negotiated employment and transaction contracts. Further licensed as a Registered Nurse since 2010, Lois specializes in healthcare law and is experienced in FDA, HIPAA, Medicare and Medicaid regulations. She has assisted many businesses in the medical and healthcare industry.
April 15, 2024
Justine F.
Versatile, analytical, detail-oriented California barred corporate attorney with a comprehensive real estate, transactional and finance background as in-house counsel to large real estate developers, asset and property management companies, Fortune 500 quick service retailers/restaurant franchisors and international energy franchisors (retail and gasoline/mini market). Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, work ethic and integrity. Enthusiastic and quick mastery of new responsibilities, technologies and business strategies.
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Employment Contract
Florida
What's the safety policy in an employment contract?
I recently accepted a job offer from a new employer and as part of the employment contract, I need to understand the safety policy in the workplace. I understand that safety policies in the workplace are important for the protection of both employees and employers, but I am not sure of the specific details of the safety policy included in my employment contract. I would like to know what safety policies are included in the contract in order to ensure that I have a safe working environment.
Diane D.
Without seeing the contract, there is no way of knowing.
Employment
Employment Contract
North Carolina
What's termination notice in an employment contract?
I recently accepted a job offer with a new company and I was given an employment contract to sign. I was looking through the contract and noticed that it mentions something about a termination notice. I'm not sure what this means or how it applies to my employment, so I wanted to ask a lawyer to get a better understanding of this clause.
Ryan D.
A termination notice is a provision in an employment contract that specifies the amount of notice an employer must give an employee if they wish to terminate the contract, or vice versa if the employee wishes to leave. This is an important clause, as it offers some level of job security for the employee and some level of predictability for the employer. In most states, including North Carolina, employment is considered "at-will" unless there is a contract in place that states otherwise. This means that either the employer or the employee may terminate the employment relationship at any time, for any reason, or for no reason at all, as long as the reason isn't illegal (like discrimination). If your contract includes a termination notice clause, this "at-will" status is likely modified to some extent. The specific details would depend on the exact wording in your contract. It could require either party to provide a notice (often 2 weeks, 1 month, or sometimes longer) before terminating the contract. That notice period is intended to give the other party time to adjust plans accordingly. For the employee, it might mean finding a new job; for the employer, it might mean finding a replacement.
Employment
Employment Contract
California
What's intellectual property in an employment contract?
I recently accepted a job offer that contained an employment contract. The contract states that I will not use any intellectual property of the company without prior written consent. I am unsure what exactly constitutes as intellectual property and would like to get a better understanding of the definition of intellectual property in the context of an employment contract.
Russell M.
Your Agreement may contain a definition like this: “Intellectual Property” means recognized protectable rights and interests such as: patents (whether or not issued), copyrights, trademarks, service marks, applications for any of the foregoing, inventions, Confidential Information, trade secrets, trade dress, domain names, logos, insignia, color combinations, slogans, moral rights, right of publicity, author’s rights, contract and licensing rights, works, mask works, industrial design rights, rights of priority, know how, design flows, methodologies, devices business processes, developments, innovations. But a few of these are going to be most likely available to you. Internal company know-how or “ how we do things here that help us succeed”. Note the words “Confidential Information”. Confidential Information is another defined term which includes customer and employee information, pricing and business strategy and plans, among others.
Labor
Employment Contract
Georgia
I was recently let go after complaining about discrimination and targeted. I was termed with a severance package. I want to know if I can renegotiate the severance.
Can I get more on my severance since I was let go after complaining about discrimination to my employer?
Donya G.
That sounds like it would depend on the reasons you were given for being let go. Did you document your grievances in an email or where they just done by word of mouth? You should consult with a GA attorney that specializes in employment law to assit. All the best Donya Gordon
Employment
Employment Contract
North Carolina
What's position hierarchy in an employment contract?
I am a potential employee considering a job offer from a company. I have received a copy of the employment contract, but I am confused about the position hierarchy outlined in it. Specifically, I am unsure of the differences between the various job titles and the roles and responsibilities associated with each one. I would like to know more about the position hierarchy in the contract to better understand the job I am considering.
N'kia N.
Position hierarchy may vary, as it is typically based on such factors as industry standards, company size, and internal policies. Before accepting an employment offer, a prospective employee should have a clear understanding of where the proposed position stands in the prospective employer's position hierarchy, as well as how the hierarchy affects the duties and responsibilities for that position. If the position hierarchy in a proposed employment contract or an employment offer letter is confusing, the prospective employee should seek clarification from the proposed employer.
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