Healing the Wounds: Overcoming the Trauma of Layoffs and Revitalizing Downsized Organizations

10.7. Elements of Explicit Contractual Relationships

Figure 10.1 illustrates a model of employee contracting. It contains the seven elements that organizations should include in contracts with employees:

• Task outcomes. This is a clear, unambiguous statement of the work to be done, along with task benchmarks and key indicators.

• Assignment duration. This is the agreed-on time for the task. If the task is a project, the time frame extends to the completion date. If the task requires an ongoing process, the time frame extends to the date the agreement expires and renewal does or does not take place.

• Contingency plans. These are the "what ifs." What if unanticipated changes take place at either the organization or individual level? Contingency plans ...