Most employees (at least in the US) aren't given a contract, they're given an offer of employment. This provides no guarantees as to what work you'll do, or the conditions you'll do it in, and both can change at any time.
Very few employees in the US have a contract that meaningfully binds the employer to anything. What contract that exists can usually be terminated or modified at anytime.
Being an employee doesn't come with a contract you sign when you begin your employment? (Not facetious, genuine question. Every new job and promotion comes with one here.)
This is the case. There is a safety net with refusing to sign so it's a choice between betting on the company or winging it and hope they keep to their end of the law. If they fire me for not agreeing there is a body that handles such cases, since that's effectively unfair dismissal and you get paid out N months too.
> What happens if you don't sign? Termination? That probably makes the contract signed under duress and invalid.
It's complicated and varies by state; but if you're an employee at will, then your continued employment is often sufficient consideration to make the new contract enforceable.
There are no employment contracts in the US. Or rather, they are so incredibly rare (mostly executives, and even rare among them) it's not worth discussing in the context of employment.
Employment contracts, especially for white collar work, are rare in the US.
Signing NDAs and acknowledging that you've read the handbook, while common, are not employment contracts.
There are a lot of comments saying not to quit until you've got a signed contract. In my career, in the US, I've had 10 jobs. All but one of them were "at-will" contracts that didn't require the employer giving any notice or reason to end the relationship. In fact, one did so on the first day. So I'm not sure that a signed contract is a guarantee of anything these days, at least in the US.
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