Tennessee Employment Contract: Definition, Key Considerations
Quick Facts — Employment Contract Lawyers (Tennessee)
- Avg cost to draft an Employment Contract: $660.00
- Avg cost to review an Employment Contract: $420.00
- Lawyers available: 37 Tennessee employment lawyers
- Clients helped: 28 recent employment contract projects in Tennessee
- Avg lawyer rating: 4.97 (12 reviews)
What is a Tennessee Employment Contract?
A Tennessee employment contract is a legal contract drafted by an employer when hiring a new employee. An employment contract is used to negotiate the terms of the employee’s job duties, responsibilities and compensation.
Tennessee is an “at will” employment state. Under this doctrine employers can legally terminate any employee for any reason as long as the termination is not discriminatory or in violation of the law.
An employment contract overrides the “at-will” employment law and turns an employee into a contracted worker with benefits and protections from at-will termination.
Are Employment Contracts Enforceable in Tennessee?
Yes. Employment contracts are enforceable in Tennessee and are governed by Title 50 of the Tennessee Code. To be enforceable, an employment contract must include the basic elements of a contract : an offer, acceptance, and consideration. The contract cannot violate any laws or go against public policy.
What Are the Legal Requirements for Tennessee Employment Contracts?
In Tennessee, employment contracts can be written, oral, express, or implied. It is always best to have an express written contract that clearly states the terms and conditions of the agreement. This type of contract is easiest to enforce.
Even without a written contract, employees can still prove that an implied contract existed. For example, an employee handbook that outlines company policies and reasons for termination can be interpreted as a valid contract that overrides “at will” employment.
Types of Tennessee Employment Contracts
Employers can use one of many types of employment contracts depending on the intent of the contract. Commonly used employment contracts include:
- Employment contract. An agreement of employment that outlines duties, compensation, company policy and causes for termination.
- Non-compete agreement. A restrictive contract that prevents an employee from competing with the employer in the same industry by starting a new business or working for a competitor.
- Severance contract. Establishes an employee’s rights to compensation when they are terminated or leave a company unwillingly.
Frequently Asked Questions
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ContractsCounsel is not a law firm, and this post should not be considered and does not contain legal advice. To ensure the information and advice in this post are correct, sufficient, and appropriate for your situation, please consult a licensed attorney. Also, using or accessing ContractsCounsel's site does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and ContractsCounsel.
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Meet some of our Tennessee Employment Contract Lawyers
William M.
Will focuses his legal practice on business, real estate, entertainment, intellectual property, and certain litigation matters. In addition to his legal expertise, he is a owner of a quickly growing bluegrass record label, and has produced chart topping bluegrass albums. Beyond his professional achievements, he has earned acclaim as a bluegrass musician, producer, and songwriter, having toured extensively across North America with well known bluegrass bands. Will is also involved with volunteering and professional groups focused towards music frowth and education. With a distinctive background as an attorney, musician, real estate investor, and business owner, Will offers clients a unique and relatable perspective few attorneys possess.
"Will did a great job of reviewing our commercial lease and explaining the legal implications in a clear way. We hope to work with him again in the future."
DC L.
Darren Craig ("DC") Lamb is the Founder and Managing Partner of DCL Legal, AI, & Business Consulting, a Nashville-based law firm serving entrepreneurs, founders, and growing businesses as outside general counsel. Licensed in TN, KY, and IN, Darren previously served as lead associate at Wilson Elser (AmLaw 200), handling all litigation for a Fortune 500 e-commerce company across KY, IN, and TN, and managing complex coverage matters for a leading international insurance market. DCL Legal focuses on business litigation, commercial contracts, corporate governance, AI & technology advisory, and fractional general counsel engagements — delivering executive-level legal guidance without the cost of full-time in-house counsel.
"DC has been great to work with. He provided a thorough review of a commercial lease, along with detailed redlines and guidance."
Jeanne H.
Jeanne is a trusted and approachable legal advisor for contractors, developers, architects, and owners navigating the complexities of construction projects and serves as the founding attorney at Harrison Litigation Team, PLLC. Jeanne has a deep legal knowledge with a genuine understanding of the people and projects behind every build, bringing over a decade of experience to each dispute and transaction. She focuses her practice on construction litigation, business litigation, and complex transactions, guiding clients through the full lifecycle of their projects — from contract negotiation and risk management to dispute resolution and litigation. Capabilities: * Drafting and negotiating AIA and custom construction and business contracts * Managing claims involving delays, defects, and payment disputes * Representing clients in mediation, arbitration, and court proceedings * Advising on regulatory compliance and lien enforcement * Guiding business transactions and partnership agreements
Beth M.
Highly skilled attorney with more than 12 years of experience in delivering ongoing support to an international organization, government organizations, law firms, and long-term healthcare facilities. Eager to leverage experience in negotiations, contracts, and strategic planning into a corporate attorney role with room for growth in the organization.
June 12, 2024
Daniel L.
I have 8 years of experience in commercial litigation. Clients have been in industries including chemical, trucking, heavy equipment and materials, industrial supplies, hospitality, and commercial real estate. I am barred in TN, and my NY bar admission is pending.
May 28, 2025
Calleigh G.
Associate attorney
June 3, 2025
Justin T.
Attorney with 20+ years substantive experience in the areas of law including real estate; banking, insurance, and financial institutions; business organizations and corporations; and probate and estate planning.
Find the best lawyer for your project
Browse Lawyers NowLawyer Reviews for Tennessee Employment Contract Projects
Dental Associate Employment Contract Review
"Very timely responses."
ContractsCounsel User
Revise Existing Employment Agreement for Texas Employees
"Darryl did an excellent job helping us adapt our employment agreement for Texas. He was responsive, answered our questions thoroughly, and made thoughtful revisions based on our business needs rather than simply making every requested change. He explained the reasoning behind his recommendations, which we appreciated. The final agreement is professional, well organized, and gives us confidence as we expand into Texas. I would gladly work with Darryl again and highly recommend him."
ContractsCounsel User
Fixed-fee scoped review for NY employment agreement (employer side)
"Very thoughtful and prompt execution of an employment contract review. I appreciated the speed of feedback and all the suggestions made. Thank you."
ContractsCounsel User
Review Veterinary Contract
"Ryenne was wonderful to work with! She went through each section of my contract line by line with me and made sure I understood every aspect."
ContractsCounsel User
Employment Contract Review/Non-complete/Healthcare
"Gil was very responsive, quick turnaround and answered all of my questions."
ContractsCounsel User
Employment
Employment Contract
Colorado
Are employment contracts confidential?
I'm considering taking a second job but would not want my first employer to know. Is there any way for them to find out? I am not sure what all of the language in the contract says and may need to get it reviewed, but I wanted to see if these contracts are kept confidential so that my employer never finds out.
Donya G.
Typically, yes. There s generally a confidential section in your employment agreement. Is there something specific you are worried about? You can have an attorney give a consultation, review the agreement and advise you. I can do that for you. You can connect with me through the website. Thanks Donya Gordon
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.
Business
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
Washington
Can my employer change the terms of my employment contract without my consent?
I have been working for a company for the past three years, and my employment contract clearly outlines my job responsibilities, salary, and benefits. However, recently my employer informed me that they are planning to make changes to my contract, including reducing my salary and removing certain benefits. I am concerned about the legality of these changes and whether my employer can modify the terms of my contract without my consent.
Merry K.
I'm sorry to hear about this proposed change. Whether or not your employer can make such changes unilaterally depends almost entirely on how your contract is written. For example, if your contract clearly states that you are an "at will" employee, your employer can not only make whatever changes it wants, but can also discipline you or terminate you with no reason at all and only a one second advance notice. If it's not an "at will" contract, there may be a paragraph or two that addresses amendments to the agreement - eg, some such contracts may say that an employer can make changes with two weeks advance written notice; another may say that changes will be negotiated in advance between employer and employee. You may want to have an employment attorney, such as myself, review your contract as well as any recent correspondence you may have received from your employer. You may also want to try to very quietly try to find out whether or not other employees are possibly in the same boat as you - it's possible that the employer is cutting back on some benefits to save money, rather than laying off or terminating some or all of their employees. Good luck to you - and if you'd like to reach out to me, you can find me through ContractsCounsel.com or on WSBA.org Please be aware that the above information is provided for educational purposes only, and no attorney/client relationship has been formed Merry A. Kogut WSBA #16153
Employment
Employment Contract
Florida
What's probationary period in an employment contract?
I am a recent college graduate who recently accepted a job offer from a company. As part of the offer, I was asked to sign an employment contract. I understand that the contract includes a probationary period, but I'm not sure what that entails. I would like to know what the probationary period is and what it means for me as an employee.
Diane D.
A period of time to evaluate you and to show that you're a good fit for the job and that you are fully qualified for it. At the end of the probationary period, they will either keep you on or terminate you.
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Tennessee Employment Contract lawyers by city
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ContractsCounsel User
Employment Contract Review
Location: North Carolina
Turnaround: Less than a week
Service: Contract Review
Doc Type: Employment Contract
Page Count: 15
Number of Bids: 3
Bid Range: $450 - $1,000
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