Florida chef employment contract template

Florida Chef Employment Contract

This Chef Employment Contract ("Agreement") is made and entered into as of [Date], by and between [Employer Legal Name], a [State of Incorporation] corporation with its principal place of business at [Employer Address] ("Employer"), and [Employee Legal Name], residing at [Employee Address] ("Employee").

1. Position and Responsibilities

The Employer hereby employs the Employee as a Chef. The Employee accepts such employment and agrees to perform the following duties:

• Option A: General Chef Responsibilities
  • Menu planning and development.
  • Food and ingredient sourcing, selection, and inspection.
  • Preparation and cooking of food items to specific recipes and safety standards.
  • Plate presentation.
  • Supervision and training of kitchen staff and line cooks.
  • Kitchen inventory management.
  • Compliance with recipe costing, portion control, and food budget targets.
  • Participation in event or banquet planning if applicable.
  • Adherence to Employer and venue quality standards.
  • Food orders tracking and vendor relations.
  • Compliance with all federal, state, and local health, safety, and sanitation regulations.
• Option B: Specific Responsibilities
  • [Detailed Specific Responsibilities]

2. Certifications and Licenses

Employee represents and warrants that they possess the following current and valid certifications and licenses required to perform the duties of a Chef in the State of Florida:

• Option A: Required Certifications
  • ServSafe certification.
  • Florida Food Worker certificate.
• Option B: Additional Certifications
  • [Specify any additional required certifications]
• The employee is responsible for maintaining all required certifications and licenses in good standing throughout the term of their employment.

3. Physical and Mental Demands

The Employee acknowledges that the position of Chef requires the following physical and mental demands:

• Standing for long hours.
• Work in high-heat environments.
• Lifting food and equipment up to [Weight] lbs.
• Performing under pressure.
• Working evening, weekend, and holiday shifts.
• Allergen cross-contamination awareness and training.

4. Work Location and Travel

The primary work location for the Employee shall be [Employer Address].

• Option A: No Travel
  • No travel is required for this position.
• Option B: Travel Required
  • Employee may be required to travel to offsite catering events, private event locations, or food truck operations.
  • Travel expenses will be reimbursed according to Employer policy.

5. Terms of Employment

This is a full-time employment position. The Employee will work a minimum of [Number] hours per week.

• The scheduled workdays are [Days of the Week].
• Overtime work may be required from time to time. Overtime will be compensated at a rate of one and one-half (1.5) times the Employee's regular hourly rate for all hours worked over 40 in a workweek, in accordance with the Fair Labor Standards Act.
• Florida law does not mandate meal or rest breaks for adult employees. However, the Employer will provide [Number] minute unpaid meal break(s) and [Number] minute paid rest break(s) during each [Number] hour shift.

6. Compensation

The Employee shall be compensated as follows:

• Option A: Salary
  • The Employee's annual salary shall be [Amount], payable [Frequency, e.g., bi-weekly].
• Option B: Hourly
  • The Employee's hourly rate shall be [Amount], payable [Frequency, e.g., bi-weekly].
• Eligibility for performance-based bonuses, subject to Employer's discretion and achievement of pre-defined targets. Details of the bonus plan will be provided separately.
• Option A: Tips/Service Charges:
  • Employee [is/is not] eligible to participate in a tip pool or share in service charges, according to applicable law and Employer policy. Details will be provided separately.
• Option B: No Tips/Service Charges:
  • Employee is not eligible to receive tips or share in service charges.
• Paid/Unpaid Trial Period: The first [Number] days of employment will be considered a trial period. [State Whether Paid or Unpaid].

7. Benefits

The Employee shall be eligible for the following benefits, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable benefit plans:

• Medical insurance.
• Dental insurance.
• Vision insurance.
• Retirement plan [e.g., 401(k) with [percentage]% employer match].
• Employer-provided uniforms/chef coats.
• Paid vacation leave: [Number] days per year.
• Paid sick leave: [Number] days per year. Note that Florida law does not mandate paid leave.
• The following public holidays will be recognized: [List of Holidays]. A shift premium of [Percentage]% will be paid for work on these holidays.
• Meal allowance or staff meals [Specify details].
• Professional development/certification/training reimbursement: [Specify details].
• Option A: No Relocation Assistance
  • No relocation, commuting, or housing assistance will be provided.
• Option B: Relocation Assistance
  • The employer will provide [Specify Relocation Assistance, e.g., a one-time payment of $X for relocation expenses].

8. Reporting Relationships

The Employee shall report directly to [Job Title, e.g., Head Chef, Food and Beverage Manager]. The chain of command for receiving guidance/feedback or lodging grievances is as follows: [Describe Chain of Command].

9. On-the-Job Safety

The Employee shall adhere to all on-the-job safety guidelines, including but not limited to:

• Safe knife and equipment handling.
• Proper PPE use.
• Safe food storage.
• Heat/fire/burn hazard training.
• Reporting workplace injuries immediately.
• Compliance with Florida Department of Health and OSHA requirements.
• The Employer maintains workers’ compensation insurance as required by Florida law. The Employee agrees to report any work-related injury or illness immediately to [Designated Contact Person].

10. Intellectual Property

The Employer shall own all rights, title, and interest in and to any unique recipes, menus, presentation formats, food products, and process innovations developed by the Employee during the course of their employment.

• Option A: Employer Claims Ownership:
  • All such creations will be the exclusive property of the Employer.
• Option B: Exceptions:
  • This provision does not apply to the Employee's prior creations or outside projects unrelated to the Employer's business.

11. Confidentiality

The Employee agrees to hold confidential all business information, trade secrets, customer and vendor lists, vendor pricing, proprietary recipes, and event details of the Employer, both during and after the term of their employment.

12. Social Media

The Employee shall adhere to the Employer's social media policy, which requires prior approval to post photos or menus or use the Employer's branding in external promotions.

13. Professional Conduct

The Employee shall:

• Comply with all food safety and alcohol service regulations (if applicable).
• Adhere to the Employer's dress code and personal hygiene standards.
• Refrain from alcohol or drug use while working.
• Participate in health screenings or random drug testing as permitted by Florida law.

14. I-9 Compliance and E-Verify

The Employer complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding employment eligibility verification, including I-9 compliance and E-Verify participation. The Employee agrees to provide all necessary documentation to verify their employment eligibility.

15. At-Will Employment and Termination

This is an "at-will" employment relationship, meaning that either the Employer or the Employee may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause, and with or without notice, unless otherwise specified below.

• Option A: No Termination Notice
  • There is no requirement for advance notice of termination.
• Option B: Termination Notice
  • The Employee is expected to provide [Number] weeks' notice of resignation. The Employer may provide [Number] weeks' notice of termination unless the termination is for cause.
• Grounds for termination for cause include, but are not limited to: [List of grounds, e.g., theft, insubordination, violation of company policy].
• Upon termination, the Employee will receive their final pay in accordance with Florida law. The Employee shall return all Employer property, including uniforms and equipment.
• The Employee may be eligible for unemployment benefits under Florida law. The Employee is responsible for determining eligibility and following the procedures for claiming benefits.

16. Post-Termination Restrictions

The Employee agrees to the following post-termination restrictions:

• Confidentiality: The Employee shall continue to maintain the confidentiality of the Employer's confidential information.
• Non-Solicitation: For a period of [Number] months following termination, the Employee shall not solicit the Employer's employees, customers, or vendors.
• Option A: Non-Compete (To be narrowly tailored and compliant with Florida Statutes Section 542.335)
  • For a period of [Number] months following termination, and within a [Number] mile radius of [Employer Address], the Employee shall not engage in a business that directly competes with the Employer's business. The Parties acknowledge that the foregoing limitations are reasonable in time, geographic scope, and business necessity, and reflect the Employee's industry status.
• Option B: No Non-Compete
  • No non-compete agreement is included in this contract.

17. Dispute Resolution

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida.

• Option A: Mandatory Mediation
  • Any dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be resolved through mediation in [City, County, Florida] before resorting to litigation.
• Option B: Binding Arbitration
  • Any dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be resolved through binding arbitration in [City, County, Florida] in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association.
• The venue for any legal action shall be [City, County, Florida].

18. Mandatory Notices

The Employer maintains a workplace anti-discrimination and harassment policy that complies with the Florida Civil Rights Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). This policy prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, age (40 or older), disability, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic under applicable federal, state, or local law. Details of the policy, including reporting and investigation procedures, are available to all employees.

19. Equal Opportunity Employment

The Employer is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing a workplace free of discrimination and harassment. The Employer respects diversity and provides reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. The Employer maintains anti-harassment training and signage as required.

20. Background and Reference Checks

The Employee acknowledges that the Employer may conduct background and reference checks. The Employee consents to such checks and agrees to provide any necessary information and authorization.

21. Drug-Free Workplace

The Employer [does/does not] participate in Florida’s Drug-Free Workplace Program. Details of the program are available to all employees.

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

[Employer Legal Name]

By: [Employer Representative Name]

Title: [Employer Representative Title]

[Employee Legal Name]

Signature: ____________________________

Date: ____________________________