Parties
Identify the employer and the processor by full legal name and entity type; include contact and billing details.
Use an Employee Processing Contract to assign duties, reduce onboarding errors, and document compliance steps. Properly executed electronic signatures satisfy federal and state e-signature laws, including the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA where adopted, provided intent, consent, attribution, and retention requirements are met.
Choosing the correct signatories and defining processing responsibilities reduces disputes and helps meet regulatory obligations such as I-9 retention and tax reporting rules.
An HR Manager signs on behalf of the employer to authorize processing, specify data access, and confirm payroll instructions. This role must ensure the contract aligns with internal policies and applicable employment laws.
A payroll or onboarding vendor (service provider) signs to accept operational responsibilities, security obligations, and liability limits. The provider should document technical safeguards and, when applicable, execute a BAA for HIPAA-covered data.
Identify the employer and the processor by full legal name and entity type; include contact and billing details.
Describe onboarding tasks, document collection, background checks, payroll setup, benefits enrollment, and any exclusions from the processor's duties.
Specify personal data collected, permitted uses, access controls, retention periods, and breach notification requirements.
Itemize setup fees, per-employee processing fees, reimbursement of third-party costs, and payment terms.
Require encryption, access controls, and applicable compliance (HIPAA BAA if PHI involved, ESIGN/UETA observance, and SOC 2 or ISO as needed).
Define termination for convenience and cause, transition assistance, and record return or secure destruction procedures.
| Field | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Signature fields | Assign to specific signer with date |
| Conditional fields | Show only when role or checkbox selected |
| Authentication | Use email + optional SMS or KBA |
| Audit trail | Enable IP, timestamp, and event log |
Verify platform integrations and supported formats (PDF, DOCX) and confirm two-factor or stronger authentication if regulated data is present.
Keep I-9 for 3 years after hire or 1 year after termination (8 CFR §274a.2).
Issue W-2 to employees by Jan 31 each year (IRS deadline).
Provide recipient and IRS copies by Jan 31 when applicable.
Start obligations on the Effective Date entered in the contract.
Obtain consent before screening and comply with FCRA timing rules.
Candidate signs offer and returns required forms.
Collect IDs, tax forms, and background consent.
Complete I-9, background checks, and payroll setup.
Confirm pay details before payroll cutoff.
The interface is simple and easy-to-use for our team; more importantly, it is just as easy for our customers.
I can process and execute all of these documents online with 100% compliance and built-in security.
Save final documents as PDF/A for archival and as DOCX for editable records; include the audit trail as a separate PDF.
Attach onboarding forms, I-9 pages, tax forms, background check authorizations, and proof of identity as labeled exhibits.
Restrict access to executed contracts to HR, payroll, and legal; log all access events for audits.
Retain an audit trail with timestamps, IP addresses, and signer authentication method for legal assurance.
| 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 | 7-day trial | Varies | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| Bulk Send | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Audit Trail | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HIPAA Compliant | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |