A written employment contract is a document that you and your employee sign that sets forth the terms of your relationship. In addition to clearly describing what the employee is going to do for you and what you are going to do for the employee.

The contract should include:

• the term of time for the employment period (one year, two years, permanent or short term)
  
• the employee's responsibilities
  
• the salary (hourly salary, annual salary) and pay period (weekly, bi-weekly or monthly)
  
• the benefits offer (health insurance, dental insurance, vacation weeks, vacation leave, disability leave)
  
• limitations on the employee's ability to compete with your business once the employee leaves
  
• privacy and confidentiality to respect in the business
  
• probation period (3 months)
  
• Evaluation period (each year)
  
• grounds for termination

Make sure you don't:

• Promise raises, bonuses, vacations or perks that may not be forthcoming
  
• Make any guarantees that the employee will be employed for any length of time
  
• In short, don't promise anything that you cannot follow up by providing.

The contract should be signed by the company and the employee. Employer should store a copy in an employee file. The contract for employee job is a important document.