Question 1

What employment documents do I need?

Accepted Answer

Offer letter, employment agreement, IP/invention assignment, confidentiality/NDA, employee handbook acknowledgment, at-will notice. State-specific requirements vary.

Question 2

Do I need written employment contracts?

Accepted Answer

Not legally required in most US states (at-will employment). But strongly recommended. Protects both parties. Required in many other countries.

Question 3

What is at-will employment?

Accepted Answer

Either party can end employment at any time for any reason (with some exceptions). Standard in most US states. Should be stated clearly in offer letter.

Question 4

What should be in an offer letter?

Accepted Answer

Title, compensation, start date, reporting relationship, at-will statement, contingencies (background check). Keep it simple, detailed agreement separately.

Question 5

Why is IP assignment important?

Accepted Answer

Without it, employees may own work they create. Critical for company ownership of code, inventions, etc. Standard in startup agreements. Non-negotiable.

Question 6

What is a PIIA?

Accepted Answer

Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement. Combines confidentiality and IP assignment. Standard for startups. Every employee should sign.

Question 7

What about non-compete agreements?

Accepted Answer

Increasingly unenforceable—banned in California, FTC proposed nationwide ban. Non-solicitation of customers/employees may still work. State law varies greatly.

Question 8

Do I need an employee handbook?

Accepted Answer

Not legally required at small size but good practice. Policies on PTO, conduct, harassment, etc. Required policies vary by state. Protects you in disputes.

Question 9

What about contractor agreements?

Accepted Answer

Different from employment. Define scope, deliverables, IP ownership, termination. Ensure proper classification—misclassification is costly.

Question 10

How do I handle international employees?

Accepted Answer

Local employment law applies. Very different from US. Use Employer of Record (Deel, Remote) or local entity. Don't DIY international employment law.

Question 11

Where do I get good templates?

Accepted Answer

Clerky for startups. Gusto includes templates. Y Combinator open source. Have attorney review before use. Payroll providers often include.

Question 12

What about equity in employment agreements?

Accepted Answer

Reference equity separately—stock option agreement, etc. Employment agreement mentions compensation may include equity. Details in equity docs.

Question 13

How do I handle raises and promotions?

Accepted Answer

Written documentation. New offer letter or amendment. Keep personnel file updated. Verbal agreements risky. Paper trail protects everyone.

Question 14

What about termination?

Accepted Answer

At-will means you can terminate. Document reasons. Follow your policies. Separation agreement sometimes makes sense. Consult attorney for risky terminations.

Question 15

When do I need an employment lawyer?

Accepted Answer

Tricky terminations, discrimination claims, executive agreements, unusual terms. Standard hiring can use templates. When stakes are high, get advice.

I need proper employment contracts and agreements

About This Problem

You might have this problem if:

Success Looks Like

Relevant For

Recommended Tools

Gusto

Rippling

Deel

Remote

Notion

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Problems

I need to set up payroll for my first employees

I need to manage contracts and agreements efficiently

Help us improve this page

Stay in the loop