Let IDA review your contract
Who can have their employment contract checked by IDA?
As a member of IDA, you can have IDA's legal advisers read your contract before you sign it in connection with your new job. We can review your contract, answer questions about various terms, or advise you on how to negotiate the best possible terms.
You can get help regardless of whether you have many years of experience in the labour market or whether you are a student or a recent graduate.
What do I need to do to get help from IDA with my contract?
IDA's legal advisors review thousands of contracts every year. Luckily, most are completely standard and without issues. If you want to check your contract yourself to see if the basics are in order, you can view IDA's contract guide before you contact IDA.
Go to IDA's contract checklist
Think about whether there are specific questions you would like an answer to - for example, what happens if you have a secondary job, if you have questions about parental leave or bonus terms, or if there are other specific terms you’d like clarified before signing your contract.
When you log in to write to IDA, you will be asked to upload:
- a digital copy of your contract.
- If possible, the company's staff handbook
- If posssible, the job posting or job description
When is it especially important for me to get help from IDA with my contract?
In the following situations, it is particularly important that you seek advice from IDA:
- Something mandatory is missing from the contract
See the checklist: Mandatory minimum requirements for your contract - Your contract contains customer, non-solicitation, or training clauses
- Your contract includes stock options or warrants, or you are being presented with a shareholder agreement.
- Key terms of employment, such as salary, bonuses, or working hours, are described unclearly
- Something is different from what you agreed upon with your employer—even after you asked your employer to correct it
- You are receiving a new contract at the same workplace because your terms of employment are being significantly changed
- If you are covered by a collective bargaining agreement—regardless of whether it was negotiated with IDA or not.
Log in and contact IDA's legal advisors
How long does it take before my contract is reviewed by IDA?
IDA's legal advisers are always busy reviewing contracts up to the end of the month. Therefore, make sure you submit your contract as soon as possible.
Which terms in my contract can I negotiate?
A contract isn’t something you simply have to accept or reject. It’s an agreement between two parties, so you can view the contract as your employer’s starting point for negotiation.
Terms you may consider negotiating:
- Salary and any pension contributions, and when your first salary adjustment will take place
- Job title
- Paid time off
- Bonus criteria
- Employee benefits (e.g., free phone, internet, parking, professional memberships, etc.)
- Working hours and flexibility
- Continuing education
- Work-from-home days
- Longer notice period
- Travel conditions
- Removing or limiting employment clauses (non-compete and non-solicitation clauses) and training clauses
- Individual parental leave terms
Terms you rarely can negotiate
However, there are also terms that are common to all employees in many workplaces, and where it is not possible to negotiate individual agreements. Companies are rarely willing to negotiate these terms:
- Pay structure and bonus model
- Policies in the employee handbook
- Company policies on parental leave and absences
- Structure and compensation for on-call shifts
- Employment clauses (non-compete and non-solicitation clauses) and training clauses
Do you only need help with salary negotiation in connection with a new job?
If you need help with salary negotiations before you get the contract, you can also get help from IDA. Before getting in touch, you can start by:
This way, you’ll be well prepared to contact IDA’s legal advisors for help with your salary negotiation:
Log in and contact IDA about salary negotiations
I’m going to be working abroad. Can IDA help me with my contract?
If you have got a job abroad, in many cases we can also help you review your contract.