[chmaynard]

Yes. Ask a senior executive in your company if you can see their employment contract. Doctors and lawyers usually have written contracts tailored to their specific requirements and responsibilities. Professional athletes would never work without a contract.

[metters]

Might be a dumb question, but I am not a native speaker: What is the difference between a written contract and a job offer?

[Red_Leaves_Flyy]

A job offer is an agreement for $x compensation for x hours worked.

A contract specifies what that work is and is not. If it's not in the contract and I don't do it, well that sucks, for my employer. Without a contract I could be fired for cause.