Dom Littlewood emphasises the importance of Ts & Cs

I watched a programme on BBC1 – Don’t Get Done, Get Dom  http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01113t7.

Dom helps people by getting to the bottom of the matter – it seems that he takes on a wide range of issues.  In this episode (series 5 episode 9) he looks at an insurance policy taken out initially with a branch of Nationwide which was acquired by Legal & General.  Dom points out the importance of reading terms and conditions and he talks about contract law.

Subject close to my heart

Now with my HR hat on, anyone who knows me will know that terms and conditions in whatever form (employment contracts, contracts with associates, subcontractors, freelancers, etc.) is a subject close to my heart.  Yes, we are all human, we all get carried away in the moment.  Most of us are very trusting especially if we are dealing with someone we know, or someone we like.  We often by-pass the small print, or we don’t bother at all about forming agreements.

Unfortunately, it is when things go wrong, when memories fade, when “you said, she said, he said” starts that you may look back at terms and conditions, contracts and such.  Sometimes we are amazed at what we signed up to, or what we didn’t sign up to.

In employment and business

In the employment and business arena, a written contract or terms and conditions with employees, associates, suppliers or customers is important.  Do you know of a relationship where there are no issues arising, no matter how small?  How are they resolved?  Communication is usually the key and if there is a benchmark from which to work – some form of contract or terms and conditions – then this serves as a starting point.  This is how Dom managed to solve the situation.

I have heard of many instances of people working together with friends, relatives, acquaintances and when there is a disagreement, these relationships are damaged, sometimes beyond repair.

I certainly know that a written contract is not the “be all and end all” of the matter, but it can be the start of sorting out a problem if necessary.

If you need help with employment or associate contracts then contact Embrace HR.

E: hr.support@embracehr.co.uk

T: 07767 308 717

Embrace HR supports business without their own HR support in Buckinghamshire. Oxfordshire, Hertfordshire and north London.