Must an employment contract be in writing?

Prepare for the ATT Law Exam. Practice with multiple choice questions, each providing hints and explanations. Be well-prepared for exam day!

The important point is that an employment contract doesn’t have to be in writing, but there is a legal obligation to provide a written statement of the main terms of employment. This written statement should be given to the employee on or before the first day of work (in practice, it’s commonly provided within a couple of months, but the exam focuses on the on-or-before-first-day timing). This statement sets out key terms such as role, pay, hours, start date, holiday entitlement, and notice. Having this written statement helps prevent disputes about what was agreed, even if some terms are agreed orally. The other options aren’t correct because a full contract in writing isn’t mandatory, writing isn’t only required if the employee asks, and terms can exist even if some are spoken rather than written.