Colorado chef employment contract template

Colorado Chef Employment Agreement

This Colorado Chef Employment Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of [Date] by and between [Restaurant Name], a [State] [Entity Type, e.g., Corporation, LLC], with its principal place of business at [Restaurant Address], Colorado (the “Employer”) and [Chef Name], residing at [Chef Address], Colorado (the “Chef”).

Position

Option A: Full-Time Chef

Option B: Executive Chef

Job Responsibilities (including but not limited to):

• Menu planning and recipe development considering local Colorado produce/seasonal ingredients.
• Supervision of kitchen staff, including training, scheduling, and performance management.
• Organization of prep and service stations.
• Inventory management and vendor sourcing, prioritizing Colorado agricultural suppliers.
• Cost control.
• Ordering and receiving food and beverage supplies.
• Culinary presentation.
• Adherence to dietary/allergen labeling requirements.
• Overseeing compliance with Colorado state and county food safety, sanitation, and health codes (including Colorado Retail Food Establishment Rules and local licensing).

Qualifications and Certifications

Mandatory Colorado-specific Certifications:

• ServSafe certification
• Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) – as required by Colorado law.
• Ongoing training in HACCP, OSHA kitchen safety, fire safety, and allergen awareness.

Work Schedule

Shift Schedule: [Specify Hours]

Workweek Structure: [Days of the Week]

Typical Operational Hours: [Restaurant Hours]

Meal Periods and Rest Breaks: Compliant with Colorado rest and meal break requirements.

Coverage During Absence: [Procedure for Arranging Coverage]

Overtime Provisions: Compliant with Colorado wage and hour regulations (including Colorado Overtime and Minimum Pay Standards Order).

Compensation

Option A: Annual Salary: [Dollar Amount] per year, payable [Pay Cycle, e.g., bi-weekly].

Option B: Hourly Wage: [Dollar Amount] per hour, payable [Pay Cycle, e.g., bi-weekly].

Overtime Rate: Time and one-half the regular rate of pay for hours worked in excess of 40 per workweek/12 per day, compliant with Colorado law.

Tips/Gratuities: [Specify Handling of Tips/Gratuities]

Bonus/Incentive Structure: [Specify Bonus/Incentive Plan Details based on kitchen performance/sales/food cost reduction]

Timely Payment of Wages: Compliant with Colorado requirements for timely payment of wages.

Benefits

Health Insurance: [Specify Coverage Details]

Vision Insurance: [Specify Coverage Details]

Dental Insurance: [Specify Coverage Details]

Colorado Mandated Leave:

• Paid Sick Leave: As per the Healthy Families and Workplaces Act.
• Family Leave: As per Colorado Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program.
• Public Health Emergency Leave: As required by law.

Paid Vacation: [Specify Vacation Time]

Mandatory Holidays: [List Paid Holidays]

Disability Insurance: [Specify Coverage Details]

Workers’ Compensation: Provided in accordance with Colorado law.

Uniforms and Equipment

Option A: Employer provides uniforms and knives.

Option B: Employee provides uniforms and knives.

Option C: Employer provides uniforms; employee provides knives.

Laundering/Maintenance: [Specify Policy for Laundering Uniforms and Maintaining Equipment]

Reimbursement: [Detail any reimbursement policy for uniform/equipment expenses]

Local Engagement

Participation in Local Events: [Specify requirements to participate in local food events, competitions, farm-to-table partnerships, Colorado restaurant industry networking, or culinary community engagement]

Intellectual Property

Ownership of Recipes: [Specify Ownership and Use of Chef-Created Recipes, Proprietary Methods, and Signature Menus]

Post-Employment Use: [Procedures for Retention or Permitted Post-Employment Use of Recipes]

Confidentiality

Confidential Information: Recipes, vendor lists, purchasing arrangements, customer/VIP lists, business strategies, and trade secrets.

Post-Employment Survival: Confidentiality obligations survive termination of employment.

Social Media

Employer Requests: [Detail Expectations for Social Media Promotion, Brand Standard Compliance, and Ownership of Content]

Personal Appearance

Uniforms: [Specify Uniform Requirements]

Hygiene Standards: In line with Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment regulations.

Tattoo/Piercing Policy: [Specify Policy]

Conduct and Workplace Standards

Kitchen Conduct: [Specify Kitchen Conduct and Behavioral Standards]

Anti-Harassment/Discrimination: Adherence to Colorado’s anti-discrimination laws (C.R.S. § 24-34-402).

Respectful Workplace: Promotion of a respectful and inclusive workplace.

Non-Compete/Non-Solicitation

Compliance with Colorado Law: Any non-compete/non-solicitation restrictions must comply with Colorado law (C.R.S. § 8-2-113).

Restrictions: [Specify any permitted restrictions, tailored to Chef's role and compliant with Colorado law. Acknowledge requirements for enforceability under state law]

Employment At-Will

At-Will Status: Employment is at-will, meaning either party may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or notice, subject to the notice period specified below.

Voluntary Resignation: [Required Notice Period for Resignation]

Employer-Initiated Separation: [Specify any severance provisions]

Final Wage Payment: Compliant with Colorado’s strict final paycheck timing rules.

Exit Interview: [Specify if exit interview is required]

Return of Property: Return of employer property/tools/uniforms.

Place of Work

Primary Location: [Specific Colorado Address/Location]

Off-Site Work: [Detail Expectations for Off-Site Work (catering, pop-ups, special events), including transportation arrangements, expense reimbursements, and adherence to food safety regulations]

Workplace Injury

Incident Reporting: [Specify Procedures for Workplace Injury/Incident Reporting]

Workers’ Compensation: Compliant with Colorado Division of Workers’ Compensation standards.

Grievance Procedures

Mechanism for Addressing Grievances: [Specify Process for Addressing Grievances and Reporting Code of Conduct Violations]

Whistleblower Protections: [Outline Whistleblower Protection Policy]

Dispute Resolution

Prioritize Negotiation/Mediation: Encourage good-faith negotiation and mediation.

Arbitration: [Specify any arbitration agreement details]

Governing Law: Colorado law shall govern this Agreement.

Jurisdiction: Colorado shall be the jurisdiction for any legal proceedings.

Probationary Period

Probationary/Trial Period: [Specify Length of Probationary Period, if any]

Performance Review: [Specify Performance Review Processes and Criteria]

Promotion/Bonus: [Specify Criteria for Promotion or Bonus]

Continuing Education: [Specify Support for Continuing Education (culinary courses, Colorado culinary association memberships, skills competitions)]

Data Privacy

Employee Records: Data privacy notice specific to employee records and background checks per Colorado Consumer Data Privacy standards.

Regulatory Compliance

Food Service Regulations: Employer’s and Chef’s responsibilities for compliance with all food service and health regulations (federal, state, local).

Allergy Management: [Specify Allergy Management Policies]

Recall Procedures: [Specify Recall Procedures for Foodborne Illness Outbreaks]

Department of Health Training: [Specify Mechanisms to Participate in Required Department of Health Training]

Amendment

Written Mutual Consent: This Agreement may be amended only by written agreement signed by both parties.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

[Restaurant Name]

By: [Employer Representative Name]

Title: [Employer Representative Title]

[Chef Name]

Signature: ____________________________

Date: ____________________________