A contract of employment is a legally binding agreement between an employer and employee.

This factsheet focuses on the ‘contract of service’, which refers to an employee and employer relationship, rather than ‘contracts for services’ which apply in the case of independent contractors, for example, freelance workers. A contract of employment only arises in an employee relationship, so this factsheet focuses on employers’ obligations to employees, although some aspects apply to workers too.

Member tool: CIPD Buddy BETA
Experiment with AI to find answers on this topic with our prototype. Login to explore CIPD Buddy

On this page

To continue reading, log in or become a member

Affiliate membership offers instant access to CIPD resources without the need for assessments or study, or explore your options to become a professional member of the CIPD to demonstrate your commitment to the world of work.

  • Access to exclusive, up-to-date resources
  • Become part of a community to learn, debate and connect with other people professionals
  • Free access to a series of CIPD learning courses and a discount on the rest of our catalogue
Instant access Explore membership

Explore our other factsheets

Factsheet

Harassment and bullying at work

Understand what bullying and harassment at work is, and how employers and employees can address the problem

Factsheet

Mediation at work

Learn how mediation can resolve conflict in the workplace

Factsheet

Zero-hours contracts

Understand the advantages and disadvantages of zero-hours contracts, recent UK legislative changes, and good practices to follow

For Members
Factsheet

Skills development in the UK workplace

Understand what we mean by skills in the workplace, UK skill levels and the government’s skills policy.

Factsheets