Before employment begins, it is common for employers to ask employees to sign documents which may describe job duties and other terms of employment as well as certain tax documents. While some of these documents might be described as routine, others could well impact upon eventual termination rights and other important matters.
During employment, an employer may require an employee to sign an acknowledgement of reprimand, promotion, demotion or new policies or benefits that are communicated, to ensure the employer has communicated these to employees properly. Again, some of these might be normal run-of-the-mill documents, but others could have a serious impact on the employment status of an employee.
When employment has ended, or is about to end, the employer might ask an employee to sign a Release or other document that describes a settlement. In our view, these should not be signed without the employee first having obtained legal advice.
If you have any doubt about a document you have been asked to sign by your employer, one of our lawyers can provide you with the advice you need.