Contract templates · Hiring & Employment
An offer email gets someone to start. An employment agreement is what you rely on when a probation goes badly, a salesperson leaves for a competitor or a dispute arises about notice.
An employment agreement is the contract between an employer and an employee setting out the job, pay, hours, leave, probation, confidentiality, IP ownership, restrictions after leaving and how employment ends. In the UK a written statement of particulars is required from day one, and in most US states a written contract is good practice even for at-will roles.
When you need one
- Hiring a full-time or part-time employee
- Replacing an informal offer email with a proper contract
Key clauses in a Employment Agreement
These are the clauses the template includes, and what each one does for you.
Position, duties and place of work
Sets the job title, reporting line, main duties and where the employee works, including remote or hybrid arrangements.
Compensation and benefits
Records salary, bonus terms, pension or retirement contributions, health cover and other benefits.
Working hours and leave
States normal hours, overtime rules and holiday or paid time off entitlement.
Probation period
Gives a trial period with shorter notice, so an early mismatch can be ended cleanly.
Confidentiality and IP assignment
Keeps business information private and confirms the employer owns work created in the job.
Restrictive covenants
Limits competing, soliciting clients or poaching staff for a period after leaving, within what local law allows.
Termination and notice
Sets notice periods, grounds for summary dismissal and garden leave or pay in lieu.
Return of property
Requires laptops, data and documents to be returned on exit.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using a US at-will template in the UK or EU, where statutory notice and dismissal rules override it.
- Restrictive covenants that are too wide to enforce; courts strike them rather than trim them in many places.
- Missing the IP clause, so code or content written by staff is arguably not owned by the business.
How to use the template
Download the Word file
Buy the Employment Agreement template on My Contract Lawyer and download the editable .docx straight after checkout.
Fill in the brackets
Add names, dates, fees, scope and governing law, and delete optional clauses that do not apply to your deal.
Check it against local law
Rules differ between US states, the UK and EU countries, especially for employment, consumer and property contracts. Have a lawyer review high-value or unusual deals.
Sign and keep a copy
Sign on paper or with any e-signature tool, and store the final version where both sides can find it.
Get the Employment Agreement template
Lawyer-drafted and ready to edit in Word, Google Docs or Pages. One-time payment of $29, no subscription, instant download from My Contract Lawyer.
Frequently asked questions
Is an offer letter enough?
For a simple role it can be, but an offer letter usually summarises terms and points to a fuller employment agreement for confidentiality, IP and termination.
Are non-competes enforceable?
It depends heavily on location. California bans most employee non-competes, the UK enforces only reasonable ones, and some EU countries require paid compensation for the restricted period.
Does an at-will employee need a contract?
At-will employees can still sign agreements covering confidentiality, IP, pay terms and benefits, which protects both sides.
Related contract templates
Templates are a starting point, not legal advice, and using one does not create a lawyer-client relationship. Contract law differs between countries and states, so check the finished document against local law.