Do I Need to Give Employee Contracts in Ireland? Yes. 100%. No question about it.
Do I Need to Give Employee Contracts in Ireland? Under Irish employment law, every employee must receive core terms in writing within 5 days, and a full contract of employment within 1 month of starting. Skipping this? Not worth the risk legally, financially, or reputationally.
Why Employee Contracts Matter More Than Ever
We still hear “I don’t have a contract, but we’ve agreed everything verbally.” That might feel friendly, but it doesn’t hold up when:
- Someone’s performance tanks
- A dispute pops up over pay, hours or duties
- You need to enforce a notice period or a restrictive clause
No written contract = a legal grey area you’ll regret walking into.
Do I Need to Give employee Contracts in Ireland? – The Legal Bit
You’re legally required to provide:
- A Day 5 Statement – covers basics like employer name, job title, start date, pay, hours, etc.
- A Full Contract – with terms like probation, leave entitlements, notice periods, grievance and disciplinary procedures.
The WRC can fine you €5,000 per employee if you skip this. Yikes.
Common Mistakes We See with employee contracts in Ireland
- Using generic UK templates
- Copy-pasting from another business
- Forgetting to update terms when promotions or pay changes happen
- Not issuing any contract (and hoping for the best)
A1HR Fix: We build practical, legally-sound employee contracts that reflect how you work. Not generic nonsense. Not over-complicated legalese. Just solid protection.
Final Word
Contracts are your first line of defence. They’re also the clearest way to set expectations with your team.
If you’re not sure where to start or afraid of what you might be missing – let’s sort it.
💬 Need help now?
Book a call or message us on Instagram @a1hr_consulting – we reply quickly, and we’re actually human.