Painting and Decorating Employment Agreement

What a good one includes

• A detailed breakdown of specific trade duties, including surface preparation, paint application, wallpapering, and post-job site cleanup.
• A clear tool policy defining which equipment the employer provides, what personal hand tools the painter must bring, and how tool allowances or replacements are handled.
• Strict safety requirements mandating the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), respirator protocols for spraying, and compliance with working-at-heights regulations.
• Precise payment terms detailing hourly rates, piece rates if applicable, overtime structures, and travel time compensation for moving between job sites.
• A quality standard clause outlining who is responsible for correcting substandard work or addressing accidental damage to a client’s property.
• Non-solicitation clauses that protect your hard-won builder and residential client databases from being poached by departing employees.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Misclassifying a regular painter as an independent contractor to avoid paying benefits, which can lead to severe tax penalties.
• Failing to document who is financially responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged spray guns, ladders, and expensive specialty tools.
• Neglecting to define daily cleanup and paint disposal protocols, resulting in messy job sites and unhappy homeowners.
• Omitting mandatory workplace health and safety clauses, leaving the business exposed to liability if an employee falls from a scaffold.

Frequently asked questions