Above the duties expressly set out in an employment contract, employees and employers also have implied duties and responsibilities. These also form part of the employment relationship.

Employment relations focus on both individual and collective relationships in the workplace.

There is an increasing emphasis on helping managers establish trust-based relationships with employees. So a positive environment of employee relations can improve business output as well as contribute to employees’ well-being.

Examples of employee / employer duties include:

• Employee duties include a duty to serve the employer with good faith and fidelity, a duty to obey the employer’s lawful and reasonable orders and a duty to exercise reasonable skill and care.
• Employer duties include a duty to pay wages, a duty to provide a suitable working area and a duty to take reasonable care of employee health and safety.

Other duties may be implied into the employment contract in specific circumstances. For example, duties arising out of custom and practice or duties that must be implied to give business efficacy to the contract.

To discuss duties to your employees, get in touch with our expert team.