What types of duties are considered implied in an employment contract?

Implied duties and responsibilities refer to those obligations that are not expressly stated in the employment contract but are understood to exist based on the nature of the employment relationship and the expectations of both the employer and the employee. These duties often encompass general responsibilities that contribute to the workplace and its goals, such as loyalty, good faith, and reasonable performance.

In an employment context, this could include the duty for employees to perform their work to the best of their ability, to follow reasonable directives provided by their employer, or to behave in a manner that reflects positively on the organization. Similarly, employers may have implied duties to provide a safe working environment and fair treatment to their employees.

While written duties and those specified in a company handbook are significant, they do not cover the broader range of implicit expectations that are integral to the employment relationship. Tasks assigned by the employer can be a part of the implied duties, but it is the broader interpretation of implied responsibilities that gives this option its relevance. Thus, recognizing implied duties is crucial for understanding the full scope of obligations that exist within an employment relationship, beyond what is explicitly written or stated.