Covered Documents
List specific items (pay stubs, W-2s, handbooks, benefits notices) so employees know which records are included.
A clear consent form reduces compliance risk by documenting employee agreement to digital delivery, meeting ESIGN/UETA requirements, and providing evidence of access and retention methods. It streamlines distribution and creates an audit trail for dispute resolution.
HR teams, payroll administrators, and benefits managers most often issue the Employee Electronic Delivery Consent during onboarding or when switching delivery methods.
Individual contributors, contractors, and remote workers commonly return the consent; managers retain an executed copy in the personnel file for compliance and audit purposes.
Responsible for issuing the consent, explaining access requirements, and ensuring the consent is stored in the employee record with an auditable trail for compliance and future reference.
Affirms ability to receive and retain electronic records, chooses delivery preferences, and signs the consent; retains responsibility to update contact and access details if they change.
| Field | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Authentication | Email link + SMS code |
| Reminders | Automated every 3 days for 2 reminders |
| Storage | Encrypted archival in HRIS and document store |
| Audit Trail | Capture IP, timestamp, and signer actions |
Ensure your eSignature platform supports required file formats, authentication methods, and integration with HR or payroll systems.
Choosing a platform that supports audit trails, secure storage, and standard integrations reduces manual handling and helps meet ESIGN/UETA requirements.
Consent should be secured before switching an employee to electronic-only delivery.
Retain I-9s per rules: 3 years after hire or 1 year after termination (8 CFR §274a.2).
Keep records supporting tax forms for at least 3 years (IRC §6501(a)).
Retain health-related records for 6 years (45 CFR §164.530(j)).
Consider re-confirming consent when contact methods change or every few years.
Policy and consent language reviewed by HR and legal before distribution.
Send consent with disclosure and access confirmation steps.
Employee authenticates and signs; system records evidence.
Signed consent archived and linked to payroll and HR records.
List specific items (pay stubs, W-2s, handbooks, benefits notices) so employees know which records are included.
Confirm the employee can access the chosen electronic format and describe how to request a paper copy.
Explain exactly how an employee can withdraw consent and the timeline for switching back to paper delivery.
Identify the signer authentication method (email link, SMS code, KBA) used to verify identity.
State how long signed consents and electronic records will be retained and where they are stored.
Describe the audit data collected (timestamps, IP addresses, device) that supports the signed record.
Provide signed copies as PDF/A to preserve appearance and embed the audit trail for long-term access.
Store a tamper-evident copy in the HRIS and a secondary encrypted backup in long-term storage.
Attach identity proof, consent withdrawal logs, and any relevant communication to the consent record.
Allow exports to common systems (PDF, DOCX) and to integrations such as payroll or benefits platforms.
| Criteria | Electronic Signature | Digital Signature |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | any electronic mark | pki-based cryptographic signature |
| Legal status | accepted under esign/ueta | accepted; stronger non-repudiation |
| Use case | routine hr consents | high-assurance regulated filings |
| Audit evidence | audit trail metadata | certificate chain + embedded hash |
| signNow | DocuSign | Adobe Sign | PandaDoc | HelloSign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $8/user/mo | $15/user/mo | $14/user/mo | $19/user/mo | $15/user/mo |
| Free Trial | Yes, 7-day free trial | Verify | Verify | Verify | Verify |
| Bulk Send | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Audit Trail | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HIPAA Compliant | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Envelope Cap | No cap | 100 envelopes/user/year | Verify | Verify | Verify |
The interface is simple and easy-to-use for our team; more importantly, it is just as easy for our customers.
The airSlate SignNow team has been exceptional, responsive, the API has been great, and we're extremely happy that we chose airSlate SignNow as a company.