Parties
Identify the employer entity and employee by full legal names, including entity type and address, to avoid ambiguity in enforcement and tax reporting.
A properly drafted hiring contract establishes duties, pay, and termination terms, reduces litigation risk, and supports regulatory compliance such as wage and hour laws. It also documents background-check consents and confidentiality obligations, which protect company assets and clarify employee expectations from day one.
Employers, HR teams, hiring managers, and in-house counsel use hiring contracts to document offers and employment terms before a new employee begins work.
Use tailored language for exempt vs. nonexempt roles, contingent offers, and positions requiring security clearances or licensed practice to ensure enforceability and operational clarity.
Identify the employer entity and employee by full legal names, including entity type and address, to avoid ambiguity in enforcement and tax reporting.
Describe job title, duties, supervisor, full- or part-time status, exempt status under FLSA, and whether the role is remote or location-based.
State base salary or hourly rate, pay schedule, bonus eligibility, equity grants, commission terms, and conditions for withholding and deductions.
Summarize health insurance eligibility, retirement plans, paid time off accrual, sick leave policies, and any probationary waiting periods.
Include nondisclosure, invention assignment, and trade-secret protections tailored to the role; specify duration and permitted disclosures.
Define at-will status or fixed-term termination provisions, notice requirements, severance terms, and post-employment restrictions such as noncompete or non-solicitation.
| Field | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Signature Placement | Required, date auto-fill enabled |
| Signer Order | Candidate first, HR second |
| Authentication | Email + SMS code or ID check |
| Retention | Auto-archive signed PDF to secure storage |
Choose a platform that supports secure e-signatures, strong audit trails, and the authentication methods your policy requires.
Ensure the platform supports ESIGN/UETA compliance, optional notarization or RON workflows if your process requires it, and automated retention to meet legal recordkeeping obligations.
Set a clear date for candidate response to avoid position hold-ups
Document employee's first day for payroll and benefits eligibility
Complete Section 2 within three business days of hire per 8 CFR §274a.2
Collect prior to first payroll run to avoid backup withholding
Complete before start if role requires clearance or licensing
Employer sends contract and sets response window
Candidate signs and returns the executed contract
Background and credentials verified before start
Complete I-9, payroll setup, and benefits enrollment
| 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 trial | Varied | Varied | Varied | Varied |
| Bulk Send | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Audit Trail | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HIPAA Compliant | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
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.