What Must an Employment Contract Include in the UK?
UK law requires employers to provide employees and qualifying workers with a written statement containing specified employment particulars. A fuller employment contract may include additional clauses, but it should not omit the required information.
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Open Employment Contract Builder →Day-one principal particulars
The principal statement includes names, start date, role, pay, working hours and days, holiday, work location, benefits, probation details where applicable, job duration for temporary or fixed-term work, and obligatory training.
Other day-one information
Information about sick pay and procedures, other paid leave and notice periods must also be provided on day one, either in the principal statement or in another reasonably accessible document.
Particulars that can follow later
Pension arrangements, collective agreements, non-compulsory training rights and disciplinary and grievance information can be supplied separately, but generally no later than two months after the employment begins.
Working abroad
Additional information is required where someone will work outside the UK for more than a month, including duration abroad, currency of pay, additional remuneration or benefits and return terms.
Changes must be recorded
GOV.UK states that employers must tell employees or workers about changes to written particulars within one month of the change.
A contract can contain more
Confidentiality, intellectual property, expenses and other suitable terms may be included depending on the role, but contractual wording must remain lawful and appropriate to the circumstances.
Official guidance: GOV.UK written statements Acas required particulars. This is general information, not legal advice. Employment status and contractual rights depend on the facts and the law that applies.