In most instances, the employee and the employer are not bound by oral contract, and that is a great misconception that predominantly employees have. For instance, if your boss says, "If you work till the end of the year, I guarantee you a bonus of ten thousand dollars," that is not a binding contract in the state of New York. And many employees are shocked to learn that. I would recommend that everything always be put in writing and be signed by the employee and the employer if it's concerning something as important as your compensation. My name is Walker Harman, I'm the Managing Attorney of the Harman firm. If you believe you've been the victim of illegal employment discrimination, we are eager to speak with you. Please give us a call.