An employment agreement can affect your rights during the working relationship and when it ends. Read the entire document, including schedules and policies incorporated by reference, before signing.
Core working terms
- Job title, reporting line, duties, work location, and remote-work expectations.
- Salary, commissions, bonuses, benefits, vacation, and expense arrangements.
- Probation, performance requirements, hours, travel, and start date.
- Whether policies can be changed and which documents form part of the agreement.
Terms that can have lasting effects
- Termination and notice provisions.
- Confidentiality, intellectual-property, non-solicitation, and conflict rules.
- Temporary layoff, reassignment, relocation, or change-of-duty language.
- Repayment, clawback, and bonus-eligibility conditions.
Ask questions before signing
If a promise made during recruitment is important, make sure it is reflected accurately in the written agreement. Obtain advice before signing where the wording is unclear or the role involves significant compensation, restrictions, or risk.
A signed agreement can be difficult to revisit later. Review is most useful before acceptance or before new terms take effect.