Can my staff work without a contract of employment?

By DRN Solicitors

10 Dec 2021

Employment law, with its constantly changing rules and regulations, is one of the trickiest areas of law to stay on top of. However, making a mistake in this area can lead to unexpected and costly disputes from employees, so it’s important to do your research and check in with your solicitor on what is required of you as a business owner before you make any decisions relating to your employees, or any other aspect of your business.  

In an effort to help with making things a little bit clearer, we’ve put together this short blog post for those looking for answers regarding employment contracts for both temporary and permanent employees. 

Can an employee start work without a contract? 

Yes, although it is not advisable to welcome a new member of staff on board without first having an employment contract in place for them. 

Whilst it is not a legal requirement for an employee to have a written contract of employment, not doing so could not only cause confusion between you and your employee, but it could leave you vulnerable to potential claims or disputes later down the line. 

It is best practice to have a thorough contract of employment drafted before an employee’s start date, so that you can both know what is expected of each of you from the first day of employment. 

Is it illegal for someone to work without a contract of employment? 

No, it is not illegal for someone to work without a contract of employment in place, whether they are a temporary or a permanent member of staff. However, it may leave both the employee and the employer at risk of entering into a dispute if the terms of the employment are not outlined at an early stage. 

How to write an employment contract 

Drafting contracts of employment can be difficult, especially if you’re just starting up your business and have little experience in hiring or managing people. 

Whilst some contracts will have different terms and benefits depending on the industry, employer, and the level of the role (i.e. entry-level, associate, executive, etc.), most contracts of employment will feature the following details; 

The name of the employee and the employer  The employee’s start date  The employee’s job title and a description of the role  Details regarding the rate of pay/annual salary  The address for the normal place of work (if remote/hybrid working is permitted, this should be outlined)  The method via which the employee will be paid (i.e. monthly via BACS transfer)  Terms relating to expected working hours An outline of the employee’s holiday entitlement  Details relating to public holidays and holiday pay  Information on the company’s policy for sick pay, sickness leave and bereavement leave  Information on the company’s maternity/paternity leave policy  Any details relating to pension schemes The duration of notice required by the company terminate the contract of employment, or vice versa  If beginning with a probationary period, the date on which this will be complete  An outline of the disciplinary procedure  Any benefits that are relevant to the role 

Help with writing a contract of employment 

At DRN, our expert team of employment law solicitors are on hand to complete, review and advise on your employment contracts to ensure they’re detailed, thorough, and that they cover all of the key aspects they need to. 

Our comprehensive range of services is offered on a fixed-fee or retainer basis for all of our business clients, providing you with on-demand support as and when you need it. By signing up for a retainer package with DRN, for a fixed monthly fee, our team of employment law experts will provide you with unlimited, on-demand support and legal advice that you can trust. Get in touch with our team to find out more! 

Latest news

1

VARS Technology team up with debt resolution specialists to fight fuel theft David Nichol John Garnett Aydan Jones and Laura Tilley

VARS Technology team up with debt resolution specialists to fight fuel theft

12 Sep 2025

2

University of Lancashire unveils Preston campus installation to celebrate name change University of Lancashire new feature

University of Lancashire unveils Preston campus installation to celebrate name change

12 Sep 2025

3

PM+M welcomes ten new apprentices for 2025 intake Lucy Field, Kate Walsh, Ellie Fisher, Zainab Aswat, Reece Jones, Aisha Bibi Patel, Finley Vila, Uzair Zariwala, Richard Prest, and Charlie Harrison

PM+M welcomes ten new apprentices for 2025 intake

11 Sep 2025

4

ROCCIA strengthens commercial division with senior appointment Andrew Grove

ROCCIA strengthens commercial division with senior appointment

11 Sep 2025

5

Final call for investors: Rossendale community solar project must hit target by November Gary McEwan managing director of Interfloor

Final call for investors: Rossendale community solar project must hit target by November

10 Sep 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
Sub36 Networking - Follow the signs
Sub36 Deaf Village Social1200
Networking
17 Sep 2025

Sub36 Networking - Follow the signs

The Deaf Village, Blackburn, BB2 5EN

10:00 - 12:00

LBV124 September/October Launch Event
MBP Arc Cinema Preston Opening 205
Networking
18 Sep 2025

LBV124 September/October Launch Event

The Arc Cinema, Preston, PR1 2BL

08:30 - 10:30

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Longridge Soap Box Derby
Screenshot 2025-06-10 090035.png.png
LBV Hub Fundraisers
14 Sep 2025 - 14 Sep 2025

Longridge Soap Box Derby

Berry Lane, Longridge, PR3 3WH

10:00 - 16:30

Preston Tech Connection - The Ultimate Tech Quiz!
Preston Tech Connection Sept 25.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Sep 2025 - 16 Sep 2025

Preston Tech Connection - The Ultimate Tech Quiz!

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:00

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
17 Sep 2025 - 17 Sep 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

Your Business, Your Region: Making sense of devolution and Local Government Reorganisation
Chorley Council breakfast event new
LBV Hub Networking
23 Sep 2025 - 23 Sep 2025

Your Business, Your Region: Making sense of devolution and Local Government Reorganisation

Worden Hall, Leyland, PR25 3DH

08:00 - 11:00

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September
Sept Freelancer (1).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
23 Sep 2025 - 23 Sep 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Speed Networking with BNI
2.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
24 Sep 2025 - 24 Sep 2025

Speed Networking with BNI

Chorley Football Club, Chorley, PR7 3DU

16:00 - 19:00

The Marketing Meetup IRL: Lancashire - September
TMM Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
25 Sep 2025 - 25 Sep 2025

The Marketing Meetup IRL: Lancashire - September

Chorley, PR7 2SL

18:00 - 20:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV 123 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin