Employment contracts are very common in businesses in Maryland and across the United States. Some contracts address competition, confidentiality and ownership rights. Other contracts limit compensation and legal action. These documents may seem harmless, but the truth is that a violation of a contract by either party could result in some serious penalties.
Many people may not appreciate the fact that employment contracts can heavily favor an employer or employee to the disadvantage of the other party. There may be an assumption that employment contracts are no big deal and probably won’t really have an effect on a person’s life. That is what some teachers at parochial schools in one state are feeling after they learned of new conditions that have been added to their employment contracts.
According to reports, 650 Catholic school teachers in Hawaii will be required to comply with new moral codes in their employment contracts starting this year. The added code apparently addresses certain behaviors that are considered undesirable in Catholic school employees. Specifically, teachers who sign the contract agree that if they engage in same-sex relationships, undergo in-vitro fertilization, commit adultery or live with someone to whom they are not married, they could be fired.
Only about half of the teachers in Hawaii have reportedly read the contract, and many of them find no issues with signing it. They say that the morality clause is in line with their own beliefs. However, the other half who may be unaware of the changes may be quite surprised to find out that certain behaviors outside of the workplace could be grounds for termination.
Employment contracts that include these types of morality clauses could be very effective in protecting the reputation and ideals of an employer. However, they can also polarize employees and create tension in the workplace. Balancing the benefits and drawbacks of these types of contracts can be crucial for both sides to consider. Without proper scrutiny, an employer or employee could be facing a costly legal battle for violating the terms on an employment contract. Before any person enters into one of these contracts, it might be important to review the terms with a legal representative.
Source: Hawaii News Now, “Catholic school teachers react to moral code in new contract,” Jim Mendoza