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Employee Service Agreement



    What is Employee Service Agreement?

    Employee service agreement is a contract that is signed between an employer (individual or company) and a service provider (individual or corporation). Such an agreement is used to hire an individual or corporation in order to do a specific and defined task for such employer. It includes details such as the nature and length of job, the rate of services, confidential obligations etc. 

    Why is Employee Service Agreement required?

    A service employment agreement between an employer and service provider is an official record - capturing the essential information regarding the job/services to be provided and received between the said parties. Such an agreement officially records the specific terms of association between the parties. It consists of terms regarding the tasks/services - including details such as the nature of the job, length of employment, salary/compensation, confidential obligations, etc. 

    It is an important step as all the rights and liabilities of both the parties are stated clearly and thus avoids future legal trouble and confusion. Its main purpose is to serve as written evidence of the promises made between the parties, which in turn ensures that the parties will fulfill these promises. It is a legal document and may be admissible in the Court of law. 

    What should a Employee Service Agreement cover?

    It should consist of all the necessary terms and conditions. The following are important terms (among others) that must be included in an agreement of this nature:

    1. The relevant personal details of the parties such as full name, residential addresses and ages of the parties to the agreement, 

    2. Information related to the kind of job/employment,

    3. Duties and responsibilities of and between the parties,

    4. Salary and remuneration clause including information regarding raises, benefits, incentives, etc. and any other consideration / amount / payments / expenses / bills involved, 

    5. Duration of the term of the employment/agreement, 

    6. Penalty clause explaining the details of what the penalty would be if either party defaults in fulfilling its duties in accordance with the agreement, 

    7. Non-compete clause to stop the employee to immediately start a similar business or join any organisation which could be in direct competition,

    8. Non disclosure and confidentiality clause regarding sensitive information that the employee may come in contact with,

    9. Grounds and terms on which employee could be terminated,

    10. General clauses such as termination of agreement, applicable laws, dispute settlement / arbitration clause, intellectual property rights, etc.) and

    11. Date of signing of the agreement.

    Documents Required for Employee Service Agreement

    There are no specific documents required for the drafting and execution of an employee service agreement. However, ID proofs of the employee in order to confirm the personal details and permanent addresses of the employee shall be scrutinized. Moreover, papers evidencing the parties’ rights to be employed (as per the agreement) and provide the service(s) in question, could be examined. PAN card details may also be required to confirm financial/account details. 

    Procedure for Employee Service Agreement

    No set procedure is applicable in the making of such an agreement. However, once the agreement has been drafted by a lawyer, it should be specifically and carefully read by both the parties to the agreement. Any necessary changes required to be made shall be carried out and once the agreement is finalised, it shall be signed by both the parties. The said agreement has evidentiary value when it is printed on stamp paper and properly signed by both the parties(if State laws require such stamping). The stamp paper value (if relevant) depends on the particular State in which it is executed. Each party should thereafter keep a signed copy of this agreement between the employer and employee. 

    How can a lawyer help to draft Employee Service Agreement?

    One of the first and the most important steps that you must undertake is to hire a good documentation lawyer, as he/she is aware of the nitty gritty of the legal procedures and necessary requirements involved in drafting of agreements between employers and employees. A lawyer would draft such an agreement, better than you can yourself, for obvious reasons. A lawyer has the necessary legal knowledge and experience to handle and draft documents. He/She will be able to guide you and draft for you according to your particular situation -  the facts, circumstances, business risks and needs involved. A documentation lawyer is aware of good drafting technique and the clauses that must be included in your agreement. Even if you are an employee and have been handed over an agreement from your employer, it is best to hire a lawyer to vet/proof read the agreement before you sign, so that it is assured that your interests are not vitiated and it is not a one-sided agreement. 

    Hiring a good lawyer in order to draft (or vet/proofread) such important legal documents is a prerequisite and will help you in more ways than one. 

  • Disclaimer: The information contained in the sample document is general legal information and should not be construed as legal advice to be applied to any specific factual situation. Any use of the Site or document format DOES NOT create or constitute a solicitor-client relationship between LawRato or any employee of or other person associated with LawRato and a user of the Site. The information or use of documents on the Site is not a substitute for the advice of a lawyer.

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