Employment Law

Sexual harassment in the workplace is unfortunately quite commonplace. It does not have to be overt; it can be subtle, insidious, and cause a great deal of distress to the victim. There is no specific legislation in Singapore to deal with sexual harassment in the workplace. However, victims are protected under the Protection from Harassment Act 2014 (POHA). What are the provisions of the Protection from Harassment Act? The Protection...

An employment contract usually governs the formal arrangement between an employer and an employee. An employment bond can be included within the main agreement or is ancillary to the employment contract and covers specific circumstances. Employment bonds are usually created when an employer has spent money investing in the training and upskilling of an employee. Employment bonds can also be used as an inducement to attract a new employee to...

In Singapore, the Employment Act 1968 governs employment law alongside common law, which has developed principles and precedents based on cases heard in court. The Employment Act is the baseline for the responsibilities and rights between employers and employees, and a contract of employment can develop or enhance these at the employer’s discretion. However, it cannot dip below the minimum statutory line. Employment contracts contain duties and responsibilities for both...

Non compete clauses are often a feature of employment contracts. They prevent employees from using their skills or engaging in business in specific markets and/or locations for a defined period. In Singapore, non compete clauses are part of a group of restrictions known as restraint of trade clauses. Non compete clauses can bite after the termination of the employment contract, or they can be active whilst the employment is ongoing...

Unfair dismissal is a term used by many people to describe a situation where their employment has been terminated, and they believe the reasons for doing so or how it was done are unfair. However, legislation defines the parameters of wrongful dismissal, and an unpleasant termination of an employment contract may not be unfair in the eyes of the law. Singapore laws protect employees against unfair and wrongful dismissal and...