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What Is an Offer Letter?
An offer letters, also known as a job offer letter, is a formal communication that establishes an agreement between an employee and employer. The employer sends the employee an employment offer letter that includes the terms of hire. These terms typically include title, pay rate, benefits, and stipulations.
Since an offer letter meaning and laws can vary from state-to-state, ensure that you speak with employment lawyers when using them during the course of your business.
Here is an article about offer letters .
What’s Included in an Offer Letter?
An offer letter is more than just a formal way to let someone know that they were hired. It also serves as a legal record for the prospective employee and your company. Ensure that you put the correct information when drafting an offer letter.
These are the items included in an offer letter:
- Job details, including responsibilities, duties, hours, and travel requirements
- Indication of whether the position is full-time, part-time, exempt, non-exempt, or contract
- An acknowledgment that the letter is intended for offering a job
- Salary offers and information about the pay cycle, bonuses, and commissions
- Benefits that the employee will have, including health insurance, retirement, vacation, employee stock options , and paid time off (PTO)
- Listings of any limitations and conditions of employment, such as a background check, credit check, or drug screening
- How to handle employment termination, including a noncompete agreement , resignation letter request, and a severance agreement
- Explain how the prospective employee can sign and return the letter to formally accept the terms in the offer letter
- Close the letter with information about how the prospective employee can reach you with questions or concerns.
Some industries and businesses may want to include additional information as relevant in their offer letters. If you need legal advice about writing offer letters in your organization, employment lawyers can help you address any question you have.
Here is an article about what’s included in an offer letter .
Purpose of an Offer Letter
The primary purpose of an offer letter is to offer a job to an employee. However, they also offer other unique advantages to both the employer and employee before beginning a working relationship.
Below, there are numerous purposes an offer letter provides, including:
- Purpose #1: Establish the terms of employment
- Purpose #2: Create a paper trail of an employment offer
- Purpose #3: Give the prospective employee a chance to think about whether to accept or reject the role
- Purpose #4: Set the expectation of both the employer and employee
- Purpose #5: Act as a springboard for an employment contract negotiation
There are other advantages associated with an offer letter. Poorly crafted offer letters can have the opposite intended effect on employers. Take the time to learn about how to write an offer letter so that you do not make this mistake with your business.
Image via Pexels by Valeria Boltneva
How To Write An Offer Letter
Ensure that you understand how to write an offer letter from start-to-finish. Doing so helps you include all relevant details and avoids any critical steps when hiring an employee. It will also establish a repeatable process that you can use for future hires.
These are the steps for writing an offer letter:
- Step #1: Start by identifying the employer’s name and sender’s title at the top of the page.
- Step #2: Open the letter with a salutation to the job seeker and congratulate him or her.
- Step #3: Include key details about the job, including the title, main duties, start date, compensation, and name of the employee’s manager.
- Step #4: Leave a blank signature and dateline for the employee to sign.
- Step #5: Provide a date of offer expiration in the letter.
- Step #6: Give instructions for how the employee can return the signed letter.
- Step #6: Conclude the letter with your name, job title, and contact information.
- Step #7: Obtain company approval to send the letter.
- Step #8: Send the letter to the employee via email or postal mail.
- Step #9: Answer any questions or enter into negotiations with the employee.
- Step #10: Begin formalizing the hiring process when the employee signs the letter.
Here is an article about creating an offer letter .
See Offer Letter Pricing by State
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Example of an Offer Letter
If you need an example of an offer letter, you can generally find a template on Microsoft Word or Google Docs. They can provide a great starting point for you to gather ideas. It is critical to remember that these templates are not customized for your situation, so they may lack key elements.
You can also do a Google search for offer letter examples. Again, you will run into the same situation as Microsoft or Google templates in terms of customization. However, you will be able to find additional options and information regarding offer letter examples through internet searches.
Here is another article featuring examples of offer letters .
Is an Offer Letter a Legal Document?
Offer letters can be a type of legal document. However, they are less formal than an employment agreement or employment contract . Also, employers are under no obligation to send an employment offer letter to new employees.
While even a simple offer letter or offer letter email offers flexibility, it is imperative that employers carefully write them since they can unknowingly become legally-binding instruments. As such, employers must review a proposed offer letter with labor lawyers before transmitting them.
By developing a standardized offer letter template, your organization can avoid making legal mistakes. Your labor lawyers can also create a boilerplate agreement that avoids creating a legally-binding agreement inadvertently. A breach of contract can result in serious employee disputes in the future.
Getting Help with An Offer Letter
While an offer letter may appear to be a simple document, it is essential to remember that it serves a legal purpose. As such, it is critical to draft and execute an offer letter that makes your employee feel welcome to the team while not missing any key details. Doing so may help your company avoid legal disputes in the future, mainly if you write the document with employment lawyers.
Getting help with an offer letter from employments lawyers will benefit your organization in several ways, including:
- Receive legal advice on current and ongoing employment decisions
- Allow someone to handle employment offer letter negotiations on your behalf
- Ensure that all critical components of an offer letter and all employment-related documents comply with local, state, and federal laws
- Answer questions regarding compensation, benefits, and retirement packages
- Keep you informed of employee classification and types of employment rules as they related to offer letters
- Represent you in civil or administrative court proceedings and hearings
- Interpret legal jargon in communications that an employee or their lawyer sends to you
- Prevent any conflicts between employee handbooks and offer letters
- Draft additional employment contracts and agreements as necessary
Many of the above-referenced issues are challenging for many reasons. Instead of leaving your offer letter to best guesses or boilerplate templates, get a customized document from labor lawyers. They will ensure that it accounts for every key legal issue that matters to your business and relevant laws.
Need Help from Labor Lawyers?
If you need help from labor lawyers in your state, post your offer letter project to ContractsCounsel. Start receiving proposals today at no cost!
Meet some of our Offer Letter Lawyers
Scott S.
I have over 25 years' experience representing individual and company clients, large and small, in transactions such as mergers and acquisitions, private offerings of securities, commercial loans and commercial endeavors (supply contracts, manufacturing agreements, joint ventures, intellectual property licenses, etc.). My particular specialty is in complex and novel drafting.
Brianna N.
Brianna is a well-respected New York licensed attorney with a Juris Doctorate degree in law from Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law School and bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management from Dowling College. Since becoming an attorney, she has practiced in various areas including business law, corporate law, residential real estate, commercial real estate, criminal law, traffic law, employment law, landlord tenant law, estate planning, and has represented intermediaries in procurement and the personal protective equipment industry. Brianna has broad and extensive business experience; She is an entrepreneur and co-owner of a microtechnology manufacturing company that was built by her and her partner, where she also served as the Chief Legal Officer and Human Resource Manager for the company. While building the manufacturing business, she created a brokerage firm for business transactions and has managed several other businesses which she has ownership interest in. Brianna’s involvement in these various businesses over the past 15 years provides a unique skillset to her clients; Not only does she understand contractual principals and obligations from a legal perspective while drafting and negotiating agreements, but she also has the foresight, experience, and ability to ensure the agreement reflects the practical aspects of the business. Based on the client’s needs and desired outcome, she has the forethought to cover different angles that would be overlooked from a legal standpoint, and as a result she is able to help prevent unforeseen business ramifications. She conducts extensive risk assessments on behalf of her clients and minimizes exposure to potential liability without “over lawyering” agreements. One of Brianna’s main areas of focus is drafting and negotiating agreements. Negotiation is a passion of hers which was applied in law school while she was a member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Society, notably winning Touro Law School’s intraschool negotiation competition. In her more recent years, Brianna has removed herself from her various business interests to focus on her law practice. Brianna has a strong moral compass and believes in quality over quantity. She treats every client as a top priority; thus, she will not take on many cases at a time because she wants to give each client the focus and attention they deserve. She has sharp attention to detail and is a forceful advocate for every client. Brianna has broad and extensive business experience; She is an entrepreneur and co-owner of a microtechnology manufacturing company that was built by her and her partner, where she also served as the Chief Legal Officer and Human Resource Manager for the company. While building the manufacturing business, she created a brokerage firm for business transactions and has managed several other businesses which she has ownership interest in. Brianna’s involvement in these various businesses over the past 15 years provides a unique skillset to her clients; Not only does she understand contractual principals and obligations from a legal perspective while drafting and negotiating agreements, but she also has the foresight, experience, and ability to ensure the agreement reflects the practical aspects of the business. Based on the client’s needs and desired outcome, she has the forethought to cover different angles that would be overlooked from a legal standpoint, and as a result she is able to help prevent unforeseen business ramifications. She conducts extensive risk assessments on behalf of her clients and minimizes exposure to potential liability without “over lawyering” agreements. Additionally, she specializes in drafting and negotiating agreements. Negotiation is a passion of hers which was applied in law school while she was a member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Society, notably winning Touro Law School’s intraschool negotiation competition. In her more recent years, Brianna has removed herself from her various business interests to focus on her law practice. Brianna has a strong moral compass and believes in quality over quantity. She treats every client as a top priority; thus, she will not take on many cases at a time because she wants to give each client the focus and attention they deserve. She has sharp attention to detail and is a forceful advocate for every client.
Jeff C.
Experienced and broad based corporate/business attorney and Outside General Counsel (OGC), for start-ups, small businesses and growing companies of all sizes, advising and assisting clients with corporate and LLC formation, contracts and agreements, internet and terms of use/service agreements, trademarks and intellectual property protection, the purchase and sale of businesses (M&A), labor and employment matters, compliance and risk management, corporate governance, and commercial leasing matters. See other reviews on my website at www.ogcservices.net/reviews
July 25, 2020
Kamilah H.
I am a top-performing bi-lingual legal services professional with a proven record of success. Reputation of assessing and evaluating client’s needs and providing individualized solutions in line with those needs while efficiently handling multiple tasks simultaneously. Able to create a collaborative work environment ensuring business objectives are consistently met. Seeking an attorney role within a legal setting to apply skills in critical thinking, executive communications, and client advocacy.
July 24, 2020
Cynthia F.
I run a small law firm in Pasadena, CA. I have been practicing for almost 10 years and the other attorneys at my firm each have 12+ years of experience. We focus on business and employment law, protecting and defending business owners. While my clients are all sizes, I particularly enjoy helping smaller companies and individuals manage their legal needs without the high price tag.
January 16, 2021
Jessica K.
I assist individuals and businesses across the state of Florida with litigation, contract drafting, contract interpretation, and issues that may arise because of contract terms, including demands (cease-and-desist letters) and litigation. I have experience with non-compete agreements, privacy policies, website terms, settlement agreements, intellectual property disputes, and many other disputes. Please reach out if I can help you with a litigation- or contract-related project!
August 3, 2020
Christopher J.
Experienced attorney focusing on estate planning, probate administration, business formation and counseling, and consumer bankruptcy.
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Offer Letter Review - Incentive Stock
Location: Massachusetts
Turnaround: Less than a week
Service: Contract Review
Doc Type: Offer Letter
Page Count: 1-5
Number of Bids: 3
Bid Range: $350 - $500
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