Parties
Identify employer legal entity and employee by full legal name, including business type and place of incorporation where relevant.
A written permanent employment agreement documents expectations, reduces ambiguity, and creates enforceable rights and obligations for both parties.
Employers, HR professionals, in‑house counsel, hiring managers and prospective long‑term employees commonly use this document.
The document also requires involvement from payroll, benefits administrators, and sometimes outside counsel for high‑risk terms.
Identify employer legal entity and employee by full legal name, including business type and place of incorporation where relevant.
Describe position, reporting structure, core responsibilities, and any performance targets or measurable objectives tied to the role.
Specify base salary, pay frequency, bonus eligibility, equity grants or commission formula, and any conditions for payment.
State effective date, fixed or indefinite term, notice periods, cause definitions, severance entitlements, and post‑termination obligations.
Include confidentiality obligations, proprietary rights assignment, invention assignment, and obligations to protect trade secrets.
Set governing law, venue, any arbitration clauses, and remedies, plus requirements for injunctive relief where confidentiality is breached.
| Field | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Document Upload | PDF or DOCX accepted; upload final executed version |
| Signature Fields | Add signature, date, initials where required |
| Authentication | Use email plus optional SMS or ID verification |
| Retention Settings | Set archival period and export formats |
Ensure the signing platform supports required authentication, PDF/DOCX import/export, and an auditable certificate of completion.
Effective date determines obligations; start date triggers payroll and benefits eligibility.
Specify length for performance review and any conditional termination rules.
Include employer and employee notice requirements for resignation or termination.
State the enrollment window for medical, retirement, and other benefits.
Collect I‑9 identity documents per federal rules as part of onboarding.
| 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 | No | No | No | No |
| Bulk Send | Yes (plan dependent) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Audit Trail | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HIPAA Compliant | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Optica centralized employment contracts to reduce manual steps and create consistency in offers.
Xerox integrated contracts with their ERP to auto‑populate data and route approvals.