Do employment contracts have ‘expiration dates?’
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Do employment contracts have ‘expiration dates?’
I am a teacher in a private school, not covered by a union. When my current
school offers me a contract for next year, I will be given three days to sign it. If I
don’t sign it in that time frame, they will consider that to be notice that I will not
be returning next year. That time stipulation is never written into the contract we
are just told that is the procedure. Is that three-day requirement enforceable if
it’s not in written in the contract? I ask because I am currently interviewing for
positions at other schools and do not want to be locked into a contract at my
current school should I be chosen for one of the other positions.
Asked on April 26, 2017 under Employment Labor Law, Minnesota
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 7 years ago | Contributor
Yes, this requirement is enforceable, since when not covered by a contract (and if you are being offered a new contract, you will presumably not be under an unexpired contract at that time), you are an employee at will, and employer has full and free discretion to offer or not offer an employee at will, or to put conditions on an offer of employment--such as that you only have 3 days to consider the offer or else will considered to not be interested and will have the offer (and contract) withdrawn.
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