Employment Documents
Important Documents When Hiring Employees in Florida
When hiring new employees, companies typically have to follow specific rules and regulations. For example, before a new employee starts working, it is crucial to ensure that both sides agree on everything regarding the employee’s job duties, compensation, benefits, and other relevant terms and legal conditions of the specific job position. These matters can be set forth in writing in an offer letter or employment agreement.
While an offer letter in Florida is usually sent to all prospective hires right after a verbal job offer, an employment agreement is typically only given to executives, key employees, or employees who are being contracted to work for a minimum guaranteed length of time.
Employment agreements are more detailed than offer letters and discuss issues such as non-competition, confidentiality, reasons for termination, benefits and stock offerings, minimum employment duration, signing bonus particulars, and commission and bonus structure, unique to high-level employees. However, an offer letter or other agreement can also contain similar restrictive covenants or clauses that limit the activities of an employee for months or years after their employment has ended.
These restrictive provisions can forbid employees from working for a competitor for a set period and in a certain geographic area, soliciting suppliers, employees, or customers of the former employer, or using trade secrets or client lists.
What Is an Employee Handbook?
An employee handbook is a document that outlines your company policies, mandated federal and state policies, as well as prohibited and permitted behavior.
Jury duty leave, military service leave, sexual harassment policy, equal employment and anti-discrimination policy, and family medical leave act policy (FMLA) are normally included in employee handbooks. However, in addition to these federal policies, employers in the State of Florida often insist on including other policies to comply with more restrictive laws.
There is no standard employee handbook that must be used. An employee handbook can include information regarding scheduled hours, holidays and paid time off, overtime pay practices, procedures regarding termination and discipline, or detailed safety procedures and rules for reporting accidents.
Skilled employment lawyers can help customize a handbook to ensure it complies with all laws and an employer’s unique workplace circumstances.
How Can FairLaw Firm Help?
A successful company will have not only great leadership and amazing employees but also the right documents in place.
Below are a few examples of the types of employment documents that FairLaw Firm prepares:
- Offer Letters
- Employment Agreements
- Commission Agreements
- Employee Handbook
- Non-Compete Agreements
- Confidentiality Agreements
- Severance / Separation Agreements
- Employee Policies
We can also discuss with you how and when to implement whichever documents you seek to implement. Once in place, FairLaw Firm can also provide you with ongoing support to address changes in the law.