Understanding Employment Contracts in Education

Employment contracts are not the most scintillating subjects for discussion. However, in the context of education and academic institutions, they can have a large impact upon all of those involved. These types of contracts can set forth the terms of the relationship between an individual employee and the institution of which they are part. From a pedagogic perspective, those who want to learn must also understand the terms of their contract, which can stipulate a variety of different things, such as their pay grade, the types of services that they provide to the institution and even their duties and obligations towards the education facility. This is not simply applicable to teachers but to all employment contracts (including those for professors and others in various educational facilities).

In this way, these types of contracts have relevance even in non-teaching situations where a person is employed. A comprehensive approach to breach of contract in employment is when one party does not fulfill the terms of the contract. For example, if an educational institution offers employment to a teacher and within the terms, it has scheduled holidays, pay and other items, and the educational institution decides to go back on this agreement, this could be a breach of contract.

Breach of contract can have many different repercussions for the employee, who enjoys protection under the contract as well as another party. For example, if the breach of contract is in the form of a significant reduction in pay, the employee can suffer greatly. The impact of such a breach can be compounded where certain forms of breach of contract can negatively impact upon an employee’s reputation as a professional. The ramifications for the faculty member can be long lasting and often substantial, as the breach of contract often triggers a domino effect on other components of professional and personal life.

For the educational institution, a breach of contract can have negative consequences as well, most especially in relation to its employees. For an organization that employs hundreds or thousands of people, one breach of contract to an individual employee can set a bad example by causing a “snowball effect”. Additionally, if it results in legal complications, it can create a financial burden for the organization.

Education institutions often have policies that are put in place within the educational pedagogies that they have. Often these policies supersede the employment contracts, meaning that education organization can attempt to do what they like and get away with it. They could even fire someone without a cause or reason, even though they do not have the right to do so.

Both the organization and employee are responsible for addressing any breach of contract, and by doing this, they can prevent additional problems from arising. Annales Universitatis Paedagogicae Cracoviensis provides an excellent perspective on breach of contract employment for educational organizations. Many of the contracts that are drawn up for educational facilities, whether they be for teachers, professors, administrative and other staff take into account the nation’s own labor laws and regulations. So, by reading how academia and educational institutions have handled themselves in the past, you can gain insight into how the integration of your employment contracts and work policies will create a more cohesive organization.