Essential Content of an Employment Contract An employment contract should contain the following information: names of the parties date on which the contract begins . position and description of the work to be performed compensation (i.e., salary, wages, bonuses) . benefits (i.e., vacation, vacation pay, health and dental plans, pensions, etc.) probation period, if any duration of the contract, if any . evaluation and discipline procedures . company policies or reference to employee policy manual . termination provisions (i.e., cause for dismissal, notice of termination, severance package) recital of management rights (i.e., employer has a right to make changes to job duties and responsibilities) . confidentiality clause, if appropriate ownership of intellectual property, if appropriate restrictive covenants, if any "entire agreement" clause (i.e., the written contract contains the whole agreement) Essential Content of an Employment Contract An employment contract should contain the following information: names of the parties date on which the contract begins . position and description of the work to be performed compensation (i.e., salary, wages, bonuses) . benefits (i.e., vacation, vacation pay, health and dental plans, pensions, etc.) probation period, if any duration of the contract, if any . evaluation and discipline procedures . company policies or reference to employee policy manual . termination provisions (i.e., cause for dismissal, notice of termination, severance package) recital of management rights (i.e., employer has a right to make changes to job duties and responsibilities) . confidentiality clause, if appropriate ownership of intellectual property, if appropriate restrictive covenants, if any "entire agreement" clause (i.e., the written contract contains the whole agreement)