Position and Duties
Define responsibilities, scope, performance metrics, and reporting relationships to ensure role clarity and measurable expectations during employment.
A clear employment contract reduces misunderstandings, protects both parties, documents expectations, and makes dispute resolution simpler. It supports governance, clarifies fiduciary and confidentiality duties, and ensures compliance with payroll, tax, and sector-specific requirements such as HIPAA for healthcare or FERPA for education.
Several organizational roles interact with this contract from drafting to signature.
Collaboration between HR, legal, and executive leadership ensures enforceable, compliant terms that reflect operational realities.
Typically the incoming executive who reviews scope, compensation, restrictive covenants, and reporting duties before signing. They should confirm accuracy of personal data, tax withholding elections, and any performance milestones described in the agreement.
Usually the CEO, board chair, or authorized HR executive who signs on behalf of the organization and confirms budget, benefits, start date, and compliance with internal governance procedures.
A community clinic hires a director with PHI access and includes HIPAA addendum and BAA provisions to limit exposure.
A university appoints a program director for a funded initiative and includes grant-fulfillment milestones and FERPA compliance language.
Define responsibilities, scope, performance metrics, and reporting relationships to ensure role clarity and measurable expectations during employment.
State base salary, bonus criteria, payment schedule, reimbursements, and any equity or deferred compensation terms with clear calculation methods.
Specify start date, probation, notice periods, grounds for cause termination, and severance or notice obligations upon involuntary separation.
Include nondisclosure obligations, duration of confidentiality, and exceptions for legally required disclosures to protect sensitive information.
Set performance review cadence, key performance indicators, and remediation steps for unmet expectations to align incentives and accountability.
Reference applicable policies (harassment, data privacy, HIPAA, FERPA, conflict-of-interest) and require adherence as a condition of employment.
| Field | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Signature Order | Employer then employee |
| Authentication | Email link or SMS code |
| Reminder Schedule | 2 reminders at 3- and 7-day intervals |
| Storage Location | Encrypted cloud folder with access controls |
Ensure your eSignature provider supports required compliance features and file formats for legal and records needs.
Verify audit trail, encryption (TLS 1.2/1.3 and AES-256 at rest), and BAA availability for healthcare before sending the contract.
Set a clear acceptance window in the offer letter
Confirm employment begin date in contract
Complete within three business days of hire (8 CFR §274a.2)
Collect W-4 before first payroll for withholding
Open enrollment or new-hire window per plan documents
Document date, terms, and acceptance window
I-9, W-4, background checks, and training finished
Conduct performance review at agreed milestone
Initiate renewal discussion or termination procedures
| 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 card | 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 |