Employment Contracts and Job Descriptions in Plain English

A sure way to improve employment relationships at your place is to get expectations very clear right from the start. Employment Contracts and Job Descriptions in Plain English is a practical workshop designed to help managers produce plain English versions of these two critical documents.

You’ll examine the international trend toward plain English employment documents, and then work on transforming some of your own organisation’s contracts and job descriptions. You’ll leave with a clear understanding of what plain English employment contracts and job descriptions look like and a plan to improve these documents in your own organisation.

Write’s work with communications, HR, and legal professionals over many years has provided invaluable insight into the need for clarity and goodwill in every part of the employment relationship.

• Context for the course—the international trend toward plain English in government and the professions
• The connection between clear communication and an organisation’s desired image and values—what your job descriptions say about your organisation
• The impact of legalese and unclear writing on individuals, relationships, and productivity
• The reader’s perspective—the shortcut to clear writing
• Plain English—what it is and what it isn’t, key principles, and the scope of plain English
• A framework to understand and apply plain English
• How to apply a plain English framework to employment contracts, including how to communicate expectations to your in-house lawyer or legal advisor (including practice with your own documents)
• How to apply a plain English framework to job descriptions (including practice with your own documents)
• How to test whether a contract or job description is fit for purpose
• How to create an action plan to improve employment contracts and job descriptions in your own organisation

This course offers practical skills to all managers and HR professionals who need to produce employment contracts and job descriptions.