Employment template

Employment Agreement

The agreement that sets the complete terms of an employment relationship — not just the offer, but the duties, the pay, the ownership of work, and what happens when the job ends.

No account needed to start.

AI-assisted document tools — not legal advice. A starting point you can understand and customize.

What it is

An employment agreement is the contract between an employer and an employee that governs the whole working relationship. It records the position and duties, the compensation and benefits, the confidentiality and intellectual-property terms, any restrictions that continue after the job ends, and how either side can end the relationship. Where an offer letter opens the door, an employment agreement describes the room — which is why it usually runs several pages and deserves a careful read from both sides.

When you’d use it

  • You are hiring an employee and want the full terms in one signed document.
  • The role involves confidential information, inventions, or client relationships.
  • You want duties, pay, and termination terms recorded beyond a short offer letter.
  • An employee reads another language and should understand the whole agreement, not just the salary line.

Key sections & clauses

The parts a employment agreement usually needs to cover. Use them as a checklist — XOsign flags the ones a draft is missing.

  • Position and duties

    The job title, reporting line, work location, and what the role is responsible for.

  • Compensation

    Salary or wage, pay frequency, bonus or commission terms, and equity if any.

  • Benefits and time off

    Which plans the employee is eligible for and how paid time off accrues.

  • Term and employment status

    Whether employment runs for a fixed term or (in the U.S., commonly) at-will.

  • Confidentiality

    What company information stays private, during employment and after it.

  • Intellectual property and inventions

    What the company owns of the employee's work — and where that ownership stops.

  • Restrictive covenants

    Any non-compete, non-solicitation, or non-disparagement terms that survive the job.

  • Termination and dispute resolution

    How either side ends the relationship, what notice is owed, and how disagreements get decided.

How XOsign helps

Understand it, translate it, refine it, sign it.

The same four steps behind every XOsign agreement — from the moment you upload or start a draft to the moment it’s signed.

Understand it

XOsign reads the document and explains every clause in plain language, so you know what you're agreeing to before you sign — not after.

Translate it

Read and sign in English or Spanish. XOsign presents the agreement side by side so nobody signs a document they can't fully read.

Refine it

XOsign flags missing, vague, or one-sided terms and suggests clearer language for your consideration — so you can decide what the agreement should say.

Sign it

Send it for legally binding e-signature (ESIGN/UETA) with a tamper-evident audit trail and a trusted timestamp on the signed copy.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between an offer letter and an employment agreement?

An offer letter extends an offer: it states the role, the pay, the start date, and the conditions of the offer, and it is usually short. An employment agreement sets the full terms of the employment relationship itself — duties, compensation, confidentiality, intellectual-property assignment, restrictive covenants, termination, and dispute resolution. Many employers send both: the letter to make the offer, the agreement to govern the job once it is accepted. XOsign explains whichever one you are holding, clause by clause.

What should an employment agreement include?

At a minimum: the position and duties, compensation and pay frequency, benefits eligibility, whether employment is at-will or for a fixed term, confidentiality obligations, ownership of work product and inventions, any restrictions that continue after employment, termination terms, and how disputes are resolved. XOsign reads a draft and flags which of these are missing or left vague before anyone signs.

Does an employment agreement change at-will employment?

It can. At-will means either side may end the relationship at any time for any lawful reason, and most U.S. employment agreements state it explicitly. But an agreement that promises a fixed term, guarantees notice, or limits the reasons for termination changes that default — so the wording matters. Employment rules also vary by state. This is general information, not legal advice; a qualified attorney can review terms for your situation.

XOsign provides AI-assisted document tools and does not provide legal advice. These templates are starting points you can understand and customize — not a substitute for advice from a qualified attorney. Requirements vary by state and situation.

Start your employment agreement in XOsign.

Understand every clause, translate it for whoever signs, and send it for signature — all in one place. No account needed to start.

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Free Employment Agreement Template & Guide · XOsign