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Key Employee Management Agreement

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KEY EMPLOYEE NON-DISCLOSURE AND NON-COMPETITION AGREEMENT

Agreement, made this day of by and between ( ) and ("Employee") regarding Employee's employment by , Employee's work product, the confidentiality of materials of , and Employee's agreement not to compete with .

1. Employment at Will

EMPLOYEE IS AN EMPLOYEE AT WILL. THIS MEANS THAT EMPLOYEE HAS THE RIGHT TO TERMINATE EMPLOYMENT FROM AT ANY TIME, WITH OR WITHOUT GROUNDS, JUST CAUSE OR REASON AND WITHOUT GIVING PRIOR NOTICE. LIKEWISE, HAS THE RIGHT TO TERMINATE EMPLOYEE’S EMPLOYMENT AT ANY TIME WITH OR WITHOUT GROUNDS, JUST CAUSE OR REASON AND WITHOUT GIVING PRIOR NOTICE. THIS AGREEMENT, AS WELL AS EACH OF THE POLICIES, PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES CONTAINED IN IT IS NOT A CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT AND DOES NOT CREATE ANY CONTRACTUAL RIGHTS, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, BETWEEN AND EMPLOYEE. THE POLICES AND PRACTICES DESCRIBED IN THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE CHANGED, ALTERED, MODIFIED OR DELETED AT ANY TIME WITH OR WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE, AND EMPLOYEE SHOULD NOT RELY ON ANY NON-BINDING INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN WHEN MAKING DECISIONS RELATED TO EMPLOYMENT WITH .

2. Confidentiality

Employee recognizes and acknowledges that the software systems, including specifications, programs and documentation, the methods and data which owns, plans or develops, whether for its own use or for use by its clients, developments, designs, inventions and improvements, trade secrets and works of authorship are confidential and are the property of . Employee also recognizes that 's customer lists, supplier lists, proposals and procedures are confidential and are the property of . Employee further recognizes and acknowledges that in order to enable to perform services for its clients, those clients may furnish to confidential information concerning their business affairs, property, methods of operation or other data; that the goodwill afforded to depends upon, among other things, and its employees keeping such services and information confidential. All of these materials and information including that relating to 's systems and 's clients, will be referred to below as "Proprietary Information."

3. Non-Disclosure

Employee agrees that, except as directed by , and in the ordinary course of 's business, Employee will not at any time, whether during or after Employee's employment with , disclose to any person or use, directly or indirectly, for Employee's own benefit or the benefit of others, any Proprietary Information, or permit any person to examine or make copies of any documents which may contain or are derived from Proprietary Information, whether prepared by Employee or otherwise coming into Employee's possession or control. Employee agrees that the provisions of this paragraph shall survive the termination of this Agreement and Employee's employment by .

4. Possession

Employee agrees that upon request by , and in any event upon termination of Employee's employment, Employee shall then turn over to all documents, papers or other material in Employee's possession or under Employee's control which may contain or be derived from Proprietary Information, together with all documents, notes or Employee's work products which are connected with or derived from Employee's services to and all copies of software obtained from shall be either returned to or, as appropriate, permanently deleted.

5. a. Ownership

Employee hereby assigns and agrees to assign to or its subsidiaries or affiliates, as appropriate, its successors, assigns or nominees, Employee's entire right, title and interest in any developments, designs, patents, inventions and improvements, trade secrets, trademarks, copyrightable subject matter or proprietary information which Employee has made or conceived, or may make or conceive, either solely or jointly with others, while providing services to , or with the use of the time, material or facilities of or relating to any actual or anticipated business, research, development, product, service or activity of known to Employee while employed at , or suggested by or resulting from any task assigned to Employee or work performed by Employee for or on behalf of , whether or not such work was performed prior to the date of this Agreement.

5. b. Further Documents.

It is further agreed, that without charge to , but at its expense, Employee will execute and deliver all such further documents as may be necessary, including original applications and applications for renewal, extension or reissue of such patents, trademark registrations or copyright registrations, in any and all countries, to vest title thereto in , its successors, assigns or nominees.

5. c. Work Made For Hire and Moral Rights.

Employee expressly waives any and all rights which Employee may have or may claim to have, either in law, in equity, or otherwise, as a result of any alleged infringements of Employee’s so-called “moral rights of authors.'' Employee acknowledges that the results and proceeds of Employee’s services are works specially ordered by for use and incorporation in ’s software systems, and the results and proceeds of Employee’s services shall be considered to be “works made for hire” for , and, therefore, shall be the author and copyright owner of the results and proceeds of Employee’s services.

6. Non-Competition

Employee agrees that because of the confidential and sensitive nature of the Proprietary Information and because the use of, or even the appearance of the use of, the Proprietary Information in certain circumstances may cause irreparable damage to and its reputation, or to clients of , Employee shall not, until the expiration of two (2) years after the date on which Employee's employment with terminates for any reason, engage, directly or indirectly, or through any corporation or associates in any business, enterprise or employment which directly solicits business, performs services or delivers goods that are competitive to those of to any customer or prospect of . and Employee agree that this covenant is fair and reasonable; however, in the event that a court should decline to enforce these provisions, Employee and agree that the provisions should be modified to restrict Employee's competition with to the maximum extent enforceable, but in no event will the covenants be interpreted as more restrictive to Employee.

7. Injunctive Relief

Employee acknowledges that disclosure of any Proprietary Information by Employee or breach by Employee of any of the covenants not to compete will give rise to irreparable injury to , or clients of . Employee also agrees that this injury to , or clients of , would be inadequately compensated in money damages alone. Accordingly, or, where appropriate, the client of , may seek and obtain injunctive relief against the breach, or threatened breach, of the disclosure of any Proprietary Information by Employee, or breach by Employee of any of the covenants not to compete, in addition to any other legal remedies which may be available. further acknowledges that the enforcement of a remedy hereunder by way of injunction would not prevent Employee from earning a reasonable livelihood since Employee's experience and capabilities would be such that in the event that Employee's employment with terminates for any reason, Employee will be able to obtain employment in business activities which are not restricted by this Agreement.

8. __________________________’s Clients

If Employee's employment with terminates for any reason, the Employee shall not, for a period of one year from the date of termination, have any business dealings whatsoever, either directly or indirectly or through corporate entities or associates with any customer or client of or its subsidiaries or any person or firm which has contacted or been contacted by as a potential customer or client of ; and Employee shall keep in strictest confidence, both during the Employee's employment and subsequent to termination of employment, and shall not during the period of employment or thereafter disclose or divulge to any person, firm or corporation, or use directly or indirectly, for the Employee's own benefit or the benefit of others, any information which in good faith and good conscience ought to be treated as confidential information including, without limitation, information relating to the software developed by , information as to sources of, and arrangements for, hardware supplied to customers or clients of , submission and proposal procedures of , customer or contact lists or any other Confidential Information.

9. Non-Interference.

Employee agrees not to interfere with ’s business in any manner, including, without limitation, by encouraging anyone to leave ’s employ or by encouraging a consultant or independent contractor to sever that person's relationship with .

10. Remedies; Waiver.

The remedies provided herein are not exclusive, and the party suffering from a breach or default of this Agreement may pursue all other remedies, both legal and equitable, alternatively or cumulatively. No express or implied waiver by a party to this Agreement of any default will be a waiver of a future or subsequent default. The failure or delay of any party to this Agreement in exercising any rights granted it hereunder will not constitute a waiver of any such right, and any single or partial exercise of any particular right by any party to this Agreement will not exhaust the same or constitute a waiver of any other right provided herein.

11. Entire Agreement; Modification; Governing Law; Interpretation.

This Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby, and supersedes all negotiations, agreements, representations, warranties, commitments, whether in writing or oral, prior to the date hereof. This Agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of New Jersey as applied to agreements entered into and to be performed entirely within the State of New Jersey. In the event any provision of this Agreement or the application of any such provision to any party is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be contrary to law, such provision will be deemed amended to comply with such law, and the remaining provisions of this Agreement will remain in full force and effect. Paragraph headings will not be used in the interpretation of this Agreement.

The parties have executed this Agreement on the date set forth above.

:

By:

Title:

Date:

Employee:

Signature:

Name:

Date:

Enter text✕

What the Key Employee Management Agreement Is

A Key Employee Management Agreement is a contract between an employer and one or more designated employees that defines the employee's responsibilities, performance expectations, compensation or retention incentives, confidentiality obligations, and transition or succession duties. It typically addresses term length, cause and without-cause termination, post‑employment restrictions where permitted, and reporting relationships. The agreement may incorporate confidentiality, IP assignment, and non-solicitation clauses and can be executed electronically under U.S. e‑signature law (ESIGN and UETA) when parties consent and retention requirements are met.

Why organizations use a Key Employee Management Agreement

This agreement clarifies expectations for high-impact employees, protects confidential information and intellectual property, establishes retention or incentive terms, and reduces business continuity risk by documenting succession and handoff procedures.

Why organizations use a Key Employee Management Agreement

Who typically prepares and signs this agreement

Signatories usually include the named employee, an authorized company officer, and when required by policy, an HR representative or witness.

  • HR leaders who manage compensation and retention programs and coordinate signings across departments
  • General counsel or outside employment lawyers who ensure enforceability and compliance with state law
  • Senior executives or board representatives who approve executive-level terms and succession planning

Representative signers and their roles

HR Manager

Drafts or selects the template, populates employee-specific data, coordinates review with legal, and oversees retention of the executed agreement for HR records and audits.

General Counsel

Reviews restrictive covenants, ensures compliance with state law and ESIGN/UETA, advises on enforceability risks, and signs for corporate approval when delegated authority requires legal signoff.

Essential security and compliance considerations

Encryption: TLS 1.2/1.3 in transit; AES-256 at rest
Audit Trail: Timestamp, IP, and action history retained
Authentication: Email, SMS code, or advanced methods
Data Residency: Configure per company policy
HIPAA Options: BAA available where applicable
Audit Reports: SOC 2 Type II and ISO-27001

Risks and consequences of an incorrect agreement

Unenforceable Clauses: State law may void improper restrictions
Breach Liability: Damages and injunctive relief exposure
Tax Treatment: Poorly documented payments affect withholding
Data Loss: Insufficient confidentiality protections
Regulatory Risk: HIPAA or SEC noncompliance where applicable
Operational Delays: Missing signatures delay enforcement

Common preparation mistakes to avoid

  • Using one-size-fits-all restrictive covenants without checking state enforceability can render non-compete or non-solicit clauses invalid or unenforceable.
  • Failing to identify the precise effective date and compensation milestones causes ambiguity for bonuses, clawbacks, and tax reporting.
  • Not aligning notice and cure periods with company termination policies increases litigation risk and inconsistent application across employees.
  • Omitting a clear IP assignment or confidentiality definition leaves gaps that can complicate ownership of work product and trade secrets.

Step-by-step: how to complete the agreement

Follow this order to reduce errors and ensure legal review before execution.

  • 01
    1. Identify parties: Enter full legal employer and employee names
  • 02
    2. Set effective date: Use MM/DD/YYYY format; aligns obligations
  • 03
    3. Define obligations: Specify duties, reporting, and deliverables
  • 04
    4. Add signatures: Collect authorized signers and dates

Where the completed agreement should go next

After signatures, route copies to required departments and retain a secured master copy.

  • HR records: Store executed PDF in employee file
  • Legal review: Save redlined and final versions
  • Payroll: Attach for incentive or withholding setup
  • Employee copy: Provide a signed copy to the employee

Key sections to include in a professional agreement

A complete agreement organizes core terms so responsibilities, compensation, protections, and exit mechanics are clear and enforceable.

Parties

Full legal names and business entity identifiers, including DBAs and employer tax identification where relevant.

Term

Start date, notice windows, renewal terms, and circumstances that trigger early termination or extension.

Duties

Specific role responsibilities, reporting lines, performance metrics, and any travel or on-call expectations.

Compensation

Base salary, bonuses, retention payments, equity grants, and payment timing or clawback language when applicable.

Confidentiality

Definition of confidential information, permitted disclosures, and obligations after termination.

Exit provisions

Termination for cause/without cause, notice requirements, post-employment restrictions, and dispute resolution.

How to configure an electronic signing workflow

Standard workflow settings reduce friction and preserve a complete audit trail when using eSignature tools.

Field Configuration
Signer Order Sequential by role
Authentication Email or SMS code
Notifications Automated reminders enabled
Retention Export signed PDF and audit log

Technical requirements for eSigning and storage

Use a platform that preserves an immutable audit trail and supports your compliance needs, such as HIPAA or 21 CFR Part 11 when required.

  • File formats: PDF, DOCX supported
  • Integrations: Salesforce, NetSuite, Google Workspace
  • Authentication: Email, SMS, or advanced

Key dates and timing to track

Document timing affects enforceability, payment triggers, and compliance; track these dates consistently.

Effective Date:

Date obligations begin; format MM/DD/YYYY

Signature Deadline:

Deadline for parties to sign and return agreement

Review Cycle:

Annual or as-specified performance review window

Renewal Notice:

Notice period required before automatic renewal

Record Retention Start:

Start date for retention and audit counting

Comparing eSignature vendors for agreement execution

Price and feature trade-offs matter when selecting a platform to manage Key Employee Management Agreements; signNow is listed first for comparison.

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 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

Practical tips for a clear, enforceable document

Follow these drafting and execution practices to reduce disputes and support enforceability across jurisdictions.

Use precise definitions
Define 'confidential information', 'cause', and performance metrics clearly to limit ambiguity and litigation risk.
Tailor restrictive covenants
Customize non-compete, non-solicitation, and geographic limits to align with state law and legitimate business interests.
Document consideration
State and record the consideration provided for restrictive covenants to strengthen enforceability in many jurisdictions.
Preserve audit trails
Keep signed PDFs and audit logs demonstrating intent, consent, and attribution for electronic signatures.

Real-world examples of implementation

Illustrative examples show how organizations apply these agreements to retain and protect key personnel.

Optica

A small investment firm standardized executive agreements to clarify deliverables and retention incentives.

  • Implementation focused on concise performance metrics tied to payouts.
  • The firm reduced ambiguity in exits and preserved client continuity while documenting IP and confidentiality protections in every executive file.

Xerox

An enterprise integration required role-based signing and system mapping to NetSuite.

  • The team used automated routing for approvals and HR records.
  • The result improved compliance with internal controls, ensured consistent recordkeeping, and accelerated onboarding for transferred executives while preserving audit trails.

Frequently asked questions about these agreements

Answers to common legal, execution, and storage questions when preparing Key Employee Management Agreements.


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