What You Don’t Know About Your Employment Contract Can Cost You.
Each summer, I see a rise in the number of people signing employment contracts for the first time—internships, grad roles, apprenticeships, training posts. There’s excitement, and a fair bit of pressure to just sign and get started.
But here’s what most people miss: your contract is a legal agreement. It matters. It can contain terms that limit your choices, cost you money, or quietly shift power away from you.
At Sage and Hollow, I’ve recently helped people on both sides of this:
- A new starter thrilled to land their first role who didn’t realise that failing a course could leave them owing the company thousands in “training costs.”
- A long-standing employee handed a new “simplified” contract one page long, and marketed as being in the team’s best interests. But signing it would’ve stripped out key terms they’d earned over years. there colleagues signed. They didn’t. With my help, They kept There rights—and There confidence.
Contracts for New Starters: The Small Print You’ll Regret Missing
Whether you’re starting your first full-time job or a short-term internship, there’s often little explanation offered. But these are some real issues I’ve flagged in recent contracts:
- Clawback clauses: Fail a qualification, leave early, or don’t finish your training? You could owe the company money.
- Holiday deductions: Some contracts allow deductions from your final pay if you’ve “used too much” leave.
- Restrictive clauses: Non-competes, confidentiality, and IP ownership are creeping into junior contracts. They matter.
- One-sided notice: You’re tied in for months—while the employer can let you go with just a week or two.
A short contract doesn’t mean a simple one. In fact, it often hides more than it reveals.
Mid-Role Contract Changes: Don’t Be Rushed
When you’re already in a role, being offered a new contract might feel like a formality—especially if it’s described as “standardisation” or “best practice.” But I’ve seen clients nearly sign away:
- Enhanced notice periods
- Bonus rights
- Parental leave benefits
- Contractual protections built up over years
In one case, only one person in the entire office said, hang on. The rest signed and lost terms. She kept hers—because she sought advice.
Why This Matters—and How I Can Help
As a solo legal consultant, I offer something the big firms don’t:
✅ A direct relationship
✅ Fast, practical answers
✅ Lower overhead = lower price
✅ No gatekeeping or billable-hour nonsense
You send me your contract. I review it personally. I highlight what matters. And I help you decide—confidently—whether to sign, query, or walk.
You only start your career once. Get the foundation right.
📩 Need a contract reviewed?
Get in touch via hello@sageandhollow.co.uk or message me directly.
Let’s make sure your first step isn’t a misstep.