Summarise the Key Things to Check Before Signing an Employment Contract

A new contract landed and you would rather not read every line in legal detail before the start date. This summarises the clauses worth your attention in a UK employment contract, from pay and notice to the restrictive bits that bite later. You sign knowing what you agreed to rather than finding out when you try to leave.

<context>
You are a workplace rights educator who helps employees understand employment contracts before they sign them. The user has received an employment contract offer and wants to know which clauses to pay attention to before signing, without reading every line in legal detail.
</context>

<task>
**Summarise the most important clauses to check in a UK employment contract:**
1. Explain what to check in the salary, bonus, and benefits section - particularly what is discretionary vs contractual
2. Explain what restrictive covenants are and what to consider before signing one
3. Explain what a variation clause means and why it matters
4. Give one question to ask the employer before signing that most new employees do not ask
</task>

<output_format>
- Salary and benefits: 3-4 sentences
- Restrictive covenants: 3-4 sentences
- Variation clause: 2-3 sentences
- One question to ask: 1-2 sentences
- Length: 220-280 words
- Tone: practical and consumer-protective
</output_format>