Skip to content
Taylor Janis Logo White
  • For EmployeesExpand
    • TerminationExpand
      • Termination Without Cause
      • Just Cause Termination
      • Termination Notice
      • Terminations & Resignations
      • Resignation vs Termination
      • Termination Without Cause Vs Wrongful Dismissals
    • Severance PayExpand
      • Severance Package Reviews
      • Reasonable Notice (Severance)
    • Harassment, Bullying and Discrimination
    • Wrongful Dismissal
    • Constructive Dismissal
    • Unionized Employees
    • Government Workers
    • Workers on Contract
    • Employment Agreements
    • Temporary Layoffs
    • Non-Competition & Non-Solicitation Disputes
    • Restrictive Covenants
    • Professional Disciplinary Hearings
    • COVID-19 Legal Resources
    • Fees
  • For EmployersExpand
    • Employment Contracts
    • Workplace Policies
    • Employment Litigation
    • Executive Employees
    • Shareholder Disputes
    • Labour Lawyers
    • Employee Immigration
    • Third Party Insurance Claims
    • Human Rights Policies for Employers
    • Workplace Training & Seminars
    • Fees
  • Locations & TeamExpand
    • Meet Your Team
    • Locations
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Press
  • Knowledge CentreExpand
    • Alberta Employment Law
    • BC Employment Law
    • Employment Law Info
    • Severance Pay Deep Dive
    • Termination Tips
    • Wrongful Dismissal Help
    • Vancouver Articles
    • Calgary Articles
    • Edmonton Articles
    • Red Deer Articles
    • Kamloops Articles
Taylor Janis Logo White

Employment Contracts and Agreements for Edmonton Employees

Hours Updated onMay 4, 2023 Categories Edmonton
Employment Contracts and Agreements for Western Canadians

Employment Contract Lawyers for Edmonton Employees

You’ve just been offered your dream job, and the organization has handed you a contract that must be signed if you want to accept. Should you sign?

The answer is that you should only sign an Employment Contract after having it reviewed by an Employment Lawyer. Otherwise, you may be signing away significant rights.

Employers are becoming more aggressive in their use of contracts. If an organization wants you to sign an agreement, it is usually because they have something to gain.

Table of Contents
  • Employment Contract Lawyers for Edmonton Employees
  • What are employment contracts?
  • Who has an employment contract?
  • What difference can a contract really make?
  • Why are employment contracts important?
    • The devil is in the details
    • Not every termination clause is valid
  • Book A Consultation

What are employment contracts?

An employment contract or agreement is simply the specified terms of your relationship with your employer. It sets out your compensation, work hours, responsibilities, and many other things.

Who has an employment contract?

If you are employed, you have a legal contract with your employer that is referred to as the employment contract. Your employment contract may be either oral or written. Oral contracts are just as enforceable as written contracts.

What difference can a contract really make?

Signing a Contract, or even an offer letter, can cost you tens of thousands of dollars (or more), expose you to unwanted changes in your duties, compensation, and even location of work, deprive you of vacation, statutory holidays, and entitlement to basic rights like overtime pay, and limit your ability to work elsewhere, even if they let you go.

It is crucial that you review all of the terms with an Employment Lawyer. You need to understand what you are giving up before you agree. Failing to do so will undoubtedly come back to haunt you later on. Unfortunately, it is all too common for us to meet with an individual who has recently been dismissed and is baffled by the minimal severance they have been offered, and we have the unfortunate duty of advising them that this is because of the contract they agreed to when they were hired.

It is also crucial that you consider what is in the contract and what is not, and ensure that the contract aligns with prior verbal discussions and with your expectations.

Get Employment Law help in Alberta & BC - Click Here

If you are expecting a bonus, certain compensation, the ability to work at home, or anything else, ensure that it is confirmed in the contract. This is particularly important because most contracts include an “entire agreement” clause which means that unless it is stated in the contract, it is not part of your agreement – any other discussions or agreements are meaningless. Even if you have a separate email message confirming a signing bonus, or that you can work from home two days each week, you will probably not be able to enforce it.

Having a trusted and experienced Employment Lawyer review the language of your employment contract prior to agreeing to it is a critical step in protecting your rights, particularly if you are being lured away from your previous organization, or if you have been provided with a contract containing extensive terms and conditions.

Why are employment contracts important?

The devil is in the details

Besides setting out the basic terms of your employment, written employment contracts often contain what is called a ‘termination clause’. If you are dismissed, a termination clause can substantially limit your entitlement to reasonable notice and/or severance pay. These types of clauses are becoming more common in employment contracts, and it is important that you have an employment lawyer review this clause immediately following your dismissal from employment.

Not every termination clause is valid

Just because there is a termination clause in your contract, does not mean that it is legally enforceable. Depending on the specific language used, there is a good possibility that the termination clause in your contract, is unenforceable, in which case you may still be entitled to proper reasonable notice and/or severance pay.

Taylor Janis is pleased to provide the following services in the area of employment contracts:

  • pre and post-employment contract review, advice, and direction
  • contract drafting
  • contract negotiation
  • litigation

If you have been terminated, and you have a written employment contract, allow Taylor Janis to review the contract, to determine how much severance pay you are entitled to.

Book A Consultation

At Taylor Janis LLP, we have the skills, knowledge, and expertise to handle all of your employment & labour law needs.

Edmonton Building

Our Edmonton intake staff are standing by to help you. Call 780-428-7770 [toll free 1 (844) 224-0222] or contact us online for general inquiries.

Get Employment Law help in Alberta & BC - Click Here

We also have a dedicated intake form to help you get the ball rolling. Our intake team will review your specific case and advise you on the next steps to take as well as what to expect moving forward.

Our Edmonton office is open 8:30 a.m.—4:30 p.m., Mon—Fri.

Taylor Janis EndStamp
Sarah Levine - Taylor Janis Employment Law

Sarah Levine

WORKPLACE LAWYER

Sarah Levine is a lawyer in the firm’s Edmonton office but acts for clients throughout Alberta and British Columbia. She practices primarily in the area of workplace law, including wrongful dismissal, workplace harassment, severance review, human rights and discrimination issues, non-competition and non-solicitation agreements, and various other employment matters.

  • Learn More About Sarah
End Block Form

Our intake staff are standing by.

Let's have one of our experienced lawyers review your case.We Can Help
Tell us a bit about your problem — we can fix it.

More Details

PRIVACY NOTICE:  Any information you provide to our office — whether your personal information or employment/employer details — will be treated as strictly confidential and will not be disclosed to your employer or to any other third party. So, please be reassured that you can talk openly to our capable Intake Paralegals worry free. Fill out an Online Inquiry or call us now, your information will be in safe and helping hands.

The Legal Review Process by Taylor Janis Workplace Law

  • Taylor Janis strives for high-quality, legally verified content.
  • Content is meticulously researched and reviewed by our legal writers/proofers.
  • Details are sourced from trusted legal sources like the Employment Standards Code.
  • Each article is edited for accuracy, clarity, and relevance.
  • If you find any incorrect information or discrepancies in legal facts, we kindly ask that you contact us with a correction to ensure accuracy.

Termination Review

If you have been terminated UNDER ANY circumstances

DO NOT SIGN A RELEASE

Talk to us first.
We will review your situation.

Employers often fail to provide the proper severance compensation.

In almost every case, we will obtain a significantly better outcome for our clients — in a timely manner.

Start The Process Here

Recent Posts

  • Severance and Hudson’s Bay Bankruptcy Layoffs: Legal TipsMay 7, 2025
  • JOB LOSS: Cenovus Energy Cuts Jobs Ahead of Critical Q1 EarningsMay 7, 2025
  • Executive Compensation and Post-Employment IncentivesApril 11, 2025

Flexible Fee Arrangements

BEWARE of firms that push for contingency arrangements

IE: working for "no money up front"

This may NOT be beneficial for you. In some cases it may be much better for you pay hourly for an action with high monetary return — keeping much more in your pocket.

If it's free YOU could be the product! At Taylor Janis we give you the CHOICE.

Law Society of Alberta
The Canadian Bar Association
Law Society of British Columbia
Three Best Rated Award
Manage HR Top Employment Law Services Award
Best Rated Badge Taylor Janis llp
Calgary Best Rated Badge
Never Sign a Release When Terminated
Join Taylor Janis!

We're looking for highly motivated associates to join our busy team.
Taylor Janis offers competitive compensation and a spirited corporate culture.

Click Here for more info
EDMONTON

Suite 400, 10216 124 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T5N 4A3
Local: (780) 428-7770
Toll-Free: 1 (844) 224-0222

CALGARY

Suite 700, 396 11 Avenue SW, Calgary, Alberta T2R 0C5
Local: (403) 474-0411
Toll-Free: 1 (844) 521-1715

RED DEER

Suite 203, 4807 50 Avenue, Red Deer, Alberta T4N 4A5
Local: (587) 333-4399

VANCOUVER

Suite 603A, 134 Abbott Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 2K4
Local: (604) 423-2646
Toll-Free: 1 (877) 402-1002

KAMLOOPS

Unit 2, 293 1st Ave, Kamloops, BC V2C 3J3
Local: (604) 423-2646
Toll-Free: 1 (877) 402-1002

MORE

Contact Us
Payments
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
Disclaimer



© 2025 Taylor Janis Workplace Law - Taylor Janis LLP Sitemap

Facebook Linkedin Instagram

Do you have a workplace/employment issue that requires assistance?

Our workplace-focused paralegals are standing by to assist you.

Get Help Here
  • For Employees
    • Termination
      • Termination Without Cause
      • Just Cause Termination
      • Termination Notice
      • Terminations & Resignations
      • Resignation vs Termination
      • Termination Without Cause Vs Wrongful Dismissals
    • Severance Pay
      • Severance Package Reviews
      • Reasonable Notice (Severance)
    • Harassment, Bullying and Discrimination
    • Wrongful Dismissal
    • Constructive Dismissal
    • Unionized Employees
    • Government Workers
    • Workers on Contract
    • Employment Agreements
    • Temporary Layoffs
    • Non-Competition & Non-Solicitation Disputes
    • Restrictive Covenants
    • Professional Disciplinary Hearings
    • COVID-19 Legal Resources
    • Fees
  • For Employers
    • Employment Contracts
    • Workplace Policies
    • Employment Litigation
    • Executive Employees
    • Shareholder Disputes
    • Labour Lawyers
    • Employee Immigration
    • Third Party Insurance Claims
    • Human Rights Policies for Employers
    • Workplace Training & Seminars
    • Fees
  • Locations & Team
    • Meet Your Team
    • Locations
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Press
  • Knowledge Centre
    • Alberta Employment Law
    • BC Employment Law
    • Employment Law Info
    • Severance Pay Deep Dive
    • Termination Tips
    • Wrongful Dismissal Help
    • Vancouver Articles
    • Calgary Articles
    • Edmonton Articles
    • Red Deer Articles
    • Kamloops Articles