Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes Divorce - what's in the contract?

Like most legal contracts, they are binding by Law. As an employer, I always feel that it would be nice if we didn't have to have legal contracts with our employees because it should always fall into a category of respect and doing the right thing. As we know, as much as you can put trust in people, they are all out for themselves and most people lack values when it comes to suiting themselves. It is always a cause for disappointment when you invest in people who at the end of the day are only concerned by their own selfish needs. They say you should invest in your people and by all accounts you should, but the reality is it is a one sided investment and there is no such things as a two-way relationship. They do a job, get paid and when they get bored or the job doesn't meet their expectations or suit them, they hot foot it with no regard to the investment you have in them. If only, the world would go back 30 years where things were very different, but I am sure a wake-up call will happen as the economy continues to slide in the wrong direction. Hopefully, the relationship with employees becomes more equal.

With clients, it is even harder because the contract that you have in place with your client is one based on providing a product or service. It is at the descretion of both parties how that plays out in most cases and everyone is tempered by their own expectations and benchmarks.

If someone provides a service and it does not meet the expectations of the client, then it becomes a dispute. This is why it is important that before you enter into a contract of any description, that full disclosure has been made. Ensure that the expectations of both parties are placed on the table and that there are no hidden surprises.

A client relationship is a relationship. It needs to be nurtured, invested in and there needs to be a certain amount of understanding and allowance for human error in judgement or in any other area really. After all, we are all human.

As the world basks in the media explosion of Tom Cruise's divorce from Katie Holmes, we rightfully so play credence to what role a 'contract' has to play in this equation. A man of his stature most certainly does not have no contract in place after all, he is renowned for having one of the most astute business acumens in show business. It may not be in the form of a pre nuptial aggreement, but nevertheless will be in the form of a legally binding contract that clearly outlines financial and confidentiality remuneration.

It's funny that in business they say that when you enter a business relationship, always plan for divorce. It is no different now that when you fall in love and marry, you plan for divorce prior to walking down the alter, I wish life were different, but people and values have changed and to accommodate this change, there needs to be paperwork to secure a more structured deal.

How the world has changed!