Duties
Describe the employee's primary responsibilities, reporting relationships, and measurable performance expectations so both parties understand role scope and accountability.
A concise Employee Working Agreement clarifies obligations, protects confidential information and employer IP, and documents compensation and benefits. It reduces onboarding friction and provides a record to resolve disputes or compliance questions without relying on informal communications.
Human resources teams and hiring managers usually prepare the agreement, while legal or compliance reviews occur for specialized roles or industries.
Both new hires and existing employees moving into new roles sign the document; third parties such as witnesses or notaries are rarely required unless state law or company policy specifies them.
An HR Manager prepares and issues the Employee Working Agreement, ensures fields are complete, and retains a signed copy in the personnel file for the required retention period. They coordinate onboarding, payroll setup, and any follow-up documentation required by company policy.
The General Counsel reviews nonstandard provisions such as restrictive covenants, IP assignment, or termination language, and advises on enforceability across jurisdictions. They may require modifications to comply with state law or to limit legal exposure.
Describe the employee's primary responsibilities, reporting relationships, and measurable performance expectations so both parties understand role scope and accountability.
State salary or hourly rate, pay frequency, bonus eligibility, commission structure, and any reimbursement or expense policies affecting total compensation.
Specify regular working hours, remote work arrangements, overtime expectations, and procedures for requesting schedule changes or accommodations.
Include non-disclosure obligations covering proprietary information and trade secrets, duration of confidentiality obligations, and permitted disclosures, if any.
Clarify assignment of inventions and work product created during employment, including any exceptions for prior inventions or licensed technology.
Set notice periods, severance (if applicable), grounds for termination for cause, and post-termination obligations such as return of property or non-compete restrictions where enforceable.
| Field | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Authentication method | Email link, SMS code, or stronger ID verification |
| Routing order | Sequential or parallel signer order |
| Conditional fields | Show or hide fields based on responses |
| Integrations | Connect to HRIS, payroll, or document storage |
Choose a platform that supports standard document formats, captures a verifiable audit trail, and integrates with HR systems to reduce manual steps.
| 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 free trial | Varies by plan | Varies by plan | Varies by plan | Varies by plan |
| Bulk Send | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Audit Trail | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HIPAA Compliant | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Optica standardized its onboarding packets including Employee Working Agreements to reduce manual steps and improve candidate experience.
A healthcare provider moved employee agreements online with added confidentiality and access controls for staff handling PHI.
Agreement takes effect on the signed Effective Date entered in MM/DD/YYYY format
Complete I-9 within three business days of hire to meet employment eligibility review
Employers must prepare W-2s and related tax reporting by Jan 31 for the prior tax year
Note any probationary review date or performance milestones in the agreement
Observe any contractually required resignation or termination notices
Candidate signs the agreement to accept employment terms
Complete background, credential, and eligibility checks
Collect signed I-9, tax forms, and completed agreement
Finalize payroll enrollment and systems access