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Characteristics of a well made employment contract

There is no set form for an employment contract. You can make the contract orally, but it is wiser to set it out in writing. An employment contract can even be made by electronic communication.

Points to agree when making an employment contract include:

  • the duties,
  • the pay,
  • the working time,
  • holidays, and
  • working regulations.

An employment contract should specify:

  • the time when the work begins,
  • the duration of any temporary contract and the reason why it is temporary,
  • the length of any agreed trial period,
  • the place of work,
  • the main duties of the employee,
  • the collective agreement that applies to the work,
  • the criteria for determining the pay and the payment period,
  • the regular working time,
  • the manner of determining annual holiday, and
  • the period of notice of termination of the contract or the criteria for determining this period.

You can ask your trade union to review your employment contract.


Text edited by: Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions – SAK, Confederation of Finnish Industries – EK, Confederation of Unions for Professional and Managerial Staff in Finland – Akava, Finnish Confederation of Salaried Employees – STTK, KT Local Government Employers, Labour Market Organisation of the Church – KiT, Office for the Government as Employer – VTML
Updated: 23/3/2023