Free Employment Agreement Template

Employment Agreement

Date: [insert date]

1. Parties

1.1 This employment agreement (the "Agreement") is made between:

(a) [Insert your company/business name], a company incorporated and registered in [England and Wales] with company number [number] whose registered office is at [address] (the "Employer"); and

(b) [Insert employee full name] of [insert employee address] (the "Employee").

1.2 This Agreement sets out the terms and conditions of the Employee's employment with the Employer.

1.3 This Agreement constitutes a written statement of the Employee's terms of employment for the purposes of Part I of the Employment Rights Act 1996.

2. Commencement and duration

2.1 The Employee's employment under this Agreement shall commence on [insert start date] (the "Commencement Date").

2.2 [The Employee's period of continuous employment began on [insert date].]

2.3 The employment is [permanent / for a fixed term expiring on [insert end date], unless terminated earlier in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement].

2.4 [The first [3 / 6] months of employment shall be a probationary period, during which the Employee's suitability for the role will be assessed. During this period, the Employer may terminate the employment by giving [1 week's] written notice.]

3. Job title and duties

3.1 The Employee is employed in the position of [insert job title].

3.2 The Employee's main duties and responsibilities are [set out in Schedule 1 to this Agreement / as follows: [insert duties]].

3.3 The Employee shall perform such additional duties as may reasonably be required by the Employer from time to time, consistent with the Employee's role and status.

3.4 The Employee shall devote the whole of their working time, attention, and abilities to the business of the Employer during working hours.

4. Place of work

4.1 The Employee's normal place of work is [insert address].

4.2 The Employer may require the Employee to work at any other location on a temporary or permanent basis, provided that the Employer gives reasonable notice of any such change.

4.3 [The Employee may be required to travel within [the United Kingdom / specify region] in the course of their duties.]

5. Working hours

5.1 The Employee's normal working hours are [insert hours, e.g. 9:00 am to 5:30 pm], [Monday to Friday], with [one hour] for lunch each day, amounting to [37.5 / 40] hours per week.

5.2 The Employee may be required to work such additional hours as are necessary for the proper performance of their duties, without additional remuneration [unless otherwise agreed in writing].

5.3 [The Employee agrees that the 48-hour weekly working time limit set out in Regulation 4 of the Working Time Regulations 1998 shall not apply to their employment. The Employee may withdraw this agreement by giving the Employer [3 months'] written notice.]

6. Remuneration

6.1 The Employee's basic salary is £[amount] per annum [gross], payable [monthly / weekly] in arrears by [bank transfer / credit transfer] on or around the [date] of each [month / week].

6.2 The salary will be subject to deductions for income tax and National Insurance contributions and any other deductions required by law or authorised by the Employee.

6.3 The Employee's salary will be reviewed [annually] by the Employer. The Employer is not obliged to award any increase following a salary review.

6.4 [The Employee is entitled to participate in the Company's [bonus / commission] scheme, details of which are set out in [Schedule 2 / a separate document]. Any bonus or commission payment shall be at the sole discretion of the Employer.]

7. Holiday entitlement

7.1 The Employee is entitled to [28] days' paid holiday per holiday year [inclusive of / in addition to] public and bank holidays in [England and Wales]). This meets or exceeds the statutory minimum under the Working Time Regulations 1998.

7.2 The holiday year runs from [1 January to 31 December / insert dates].

7.3 Holiday must be taken at times approved in advance by the Employer. The Employee must give at least [twice the length of the holiday requested] days' notice of any proposed holiday dates.

7.4 Untaken holiday may not be carried forward to the following holiday year, except [with the prior written consent of the Employer / where required by law].

8. Sickness absence

8.1 If the Employee is unable to work due to illness or injury, the Employee must notify [their line manager / the Employer] as soon as reasonably practicable on the first day of absence and provide the reason for their absence and the expected duration.

8.2 For absences of seven calendar days or fewer, the Employee must complete a self-certification form upon their return to work.

8.3 For absences exceeding seven calendar days, the Employee must provide a fit note (Statement of Fitness for Work) from their doctor.

8.4 The Employee will be entitled to [Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) only / Company sick pay of [details], subject to [conditions]].

9. Pension

9.1 The Employer operates a workplace pension scheme in compliance with the automatic enrolment requirements under the Pensions Act 2008.

9.2 The Employee will be automatically enrolled into the Employer's workplace pension scheme in accordance with the applicable legislation, provided they meet the eligibility criteria.

9.3 The Employer will contribute [the statutory minimum percentage / [X]%] of the Employee's qualifying earnings to the pension scheme. The Employee will contribute [the statutory minimum percentage / [X]%] of their qualifying earnings.

9.4 The Employee may opt out of the pension scheme in accordance with the scheme rules, but may be re-enrolled at intervals as required by law.

10. Notice periods

10.1 After the completion of any probationary period, the notice required to terminate the Employee's employment shall be:

(a) by the Employer: [one month / [X] weeks] written notice; and

(b) by the Employee: [one month / [X] weeks] written notice.

10.2 The statutory minimum notice periods under the Employment Rights Act 1996 (one week for each complete year of continuous service, up to a maximum of 12 weeks) shall apply where they exceed the contractual notice periods set out above.

10.3 The Employer reserves the right to make a payment in lieu of notice, equivalent to the basic salary the Employee would have received during the notice period.

11. Confidentiality

11.1 The Employee shall not, during or after their employment, disclose to any person, company, or other organisation whatsoever, or make use of, any confidential information belonging to the Employer or any associated company, except in the proper course of their duties or as required by law.

11.2 Confidential information includes, but is not limited to: trade secrets, client lists, financial information, business plans, pricing structures, technical data, know-how, and any other information that is not in the public domain.

11.3 All documents, materials, and other property containing or relating to confidential information shall be returned to the Employer upon the termination of the Employee's employment, or at any time upon the Employer's request.

11.4 The obligations in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement and shall continue to bind the Employee without limitation of time.

12. Restrictive covenants

12.1 For a period of [6 / 12] months following the termination of the Employee's employment (however arising), the Employee shall not, without the prior written consent of the Employer:

(a) solicit or endeavour to entice away from the Employer any person who was a client or customer of the Employer at any time during the [12] months immediately preceding the termination date;

(b) solicit or endeavour to entice away from the Employer any employee or contractor of the Employer;

(c) be engaged, concerned, or interested in any business which is in competition with any business carried on by the Employer [within [geographical area]].

12.2 Each of the restrictions in this Section constitutes an entirely separate and independent restriction. If any restriction is held to be void but would be valid if some part of it were deleted or reduced, the restriction shall apply with such modification as may be necessary to make it valid and enforceable.

12.3 The Employee acknowledges that these restrictions are reasonable and necessary for the protection of the Employer's legitimate business interests.

13. Disciplinary and grievance

13.1 The Employer's disciplinary and grievance procedures are set out in [the Employee Handbook / a separate document, copies of which are available from [insert location / HR department]].

13.2 The disciplinary and grievance procedures do not form part of this Agreement and may be amended by the Employer from time to time.

13.3 If the Employee wishes to raise a grievance relating to their employment, they should do so in writing to [their line manager / the HR department], in accordance with the Employer's grievance procedure.

14. Data protection

14.1 The Employer will process the Employee's personal data in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

14.2 Details of the types of personal data processed, the purposes for processing, and the Employee's rights in respect of their personal data are set out in the Employer's [employee privacy notice / data protection policy], a copy of which [has been provided to the Employee / is available from [insert location]].

14.3 The Employee must comply with the Employer's data protection policies when handling personal data in the course of their employment.

15. Governing law

15.1 This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of [England and Wales].

15.2 The courts of [England and Wales] shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with this Agreement.

16. Entire agreement

16.1 This Agreement, together with any documents referred to in it, constitutes the whole agreement between the parties and supersedes any previous arrangement, understanding, or agreement between them relating to the subject matter of this Agreement.

16.2 The Employee acknowledges that in entering into this Agreement, they do not rely on any statement, representation, assurance, or warranty (whether made innocently or negligently) that is not set out in this Agreement.

16.3 Nothing in this clause shall limit or exclude any liability for fraud.

Signed by the Employer:

Name: [authorised signatory name]

Position: [position]

Date: [date]

Signature: ___________________________

Signed by the Employee:

Name: [employee name]

Date: [date]

Signature: ___________________________

This document was created using a free template from SEQ Legal.