Consideration
Lawyers talk of the “consideration” which is given by the employee in exchange for wages received. Sad to say, consideration does not refer to the need for politeness or thoughtfulness on the part of those entering the contract. It is merely a technical term which refers to the fact that the contract of employment entails obligations on both parties; that is, on the employer to pay (unless the contact expressly states otherwise, which it might in the event of, say, a lay-off), and on the employee to work or to be available for work. Therefore, an offer by one party to work as an employee for another will not be enforceable if, in the absence of any express term to exclude payment, the employer does not propose to pay the employee.