Iowa software developer employment contract template

Iowa Software Developer Employment Contract

Effective Date: [Date]

Employer: [Company Name], located at [Company Address, including City, State, Zip Code]

Employee: [Employee Name], residing at [Employee Address, including City, State, Zip Code]

Position: Software Developer

Employment Type: Full-time

1. Job Description and Responsibilities

The Employee is hired as a Software Developer and will report to [Reporting Manager Name or Title].

The Employee's primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Requirements analysis and documentation
• Software design and architecture, including database design
• Object-oriented programming in languages such as [List programming languages, e.g., Java, C#, Python]
• Database integration using [List database technologies, e.g., MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server]
• Version control workflows using [List version control systems, e.g., Git (GitHub, Bitbucket)]
• Source code management
• Unit and integration testing
• Debugging and performance profiling
• Documenting code and technical processes
• Participating in daily and weekly agile/scrum meetings
• Collaborating within cross-functional teams
• Providing technical support
• Adhering to secure coding practices
• Staying updated with relevant technological advances

The Employee will be expected to utilize the following development platforms: [List platforms, e.g., .NET, Node.js, AWS, Azure, GCP].

The Employee will be expected to use the following frameworks: [List frameworks, e.g., React, Angular, Spring].

The Employee will be expected to follow [List Compliance Standards, e.g., SOC 2, HIPAA] when handling client data, if applicable.

2. Work Location and Remote Work Policy

Option A: The primary work location is the Employer's facility located at [Company Address, including City, State, Zip Code] in Iowa.

Option B: The Employee may work remotely from their home office located within Iowa. The Employee is responsible for maintaining a secure work environment.

• The Employer will provide the following equipment: [List Equipment, e.g., Laptop, Monitor, Keyboard, Mouse]. All equipment remains the property of the Employer and must be returned upon termination of employment.
• The Employee is required to use a secure VPN connection when accessing company resources.
• The Employee is required to use MFA and adhere to all security protocols as directed by the employer.
• The Employee must follow strict guidelines regarding the handling and storage of employer and client data in compliance with Iowa state laws and any relevant federal standards.

3. Employment Terms

The employment is full-time, with an expected work week of [Number] hours.

Core Hours: The Employee is expected to be available during core business hours of [Start Time] to [End Time], Monday through Friday.

Flexible Scheduling: [Describe any acceptable flexible scheduling practices, if any]

Overtime: Non-exempt employees are eligible for overtime pay in accordance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and Iowa law. All overtime must be pre-approved by [Reporting Manager Name or Title]. Overtime will be compensated at a rate of one and one-half times the Employee's regular rate of pay for all hours worked over 40 in a workweek.

Rest/Meal Breaks: Employees are entitled to a 30-minute unpaid meal break for shifts exceeding eight consecutive hours and 15 minute paid breaks for every four consecutive hours worked, in accordance with Iowa law.

4. Compensation and Benefits

Option A (Salary): The Employee's annual salary is [Dollar Amount], payable in [Frequency, e.g., bi-weekly, monthly] installments.

Option B (Hourly): The Employee's hourly wage is [Dollar Amount], payable in [Frequency, e.g., bi-weekly, monthly] installments.

Payment will be made via [Payment Method, e.g., direct deposit, check], in accordance with Iowa wage laws.

Bonuses: [Describe eligibility and criteria for merit-based bonuses, project completion incentives, etc., if any]

Equity: [Describe stock option, profit-share, or phantom equity programs, if offered, including vesting schedules]

Benefits:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance, subject to the terms and conditions of the Employer's plans and Affordable Care Act requirements.
• 401(k) or comparable retirement plan, subject to plan documents.
• Paid vacation: [Number] days per year, accrued according to company policy.
• Paid sick leave: [Number] days per year, accrued according to company policy. Note: Iowa does not mandate paid sick leave.
• The company offers [Number] paid holidays per year: [List Holidays, e.g., New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day].
• [Describe any remote work stipends or mileage/travel reimbursement policies for in-state travel]
• [Describe any technical training budgets]
• [Describe any reimbursements for dues for professional software associations]
• [Describe any tuition reimbursement policies for CS or IT certifications]

5. Intellectual Property

The Employee agrees that all inventions, software, code, documentation, algorithms, process improvements, and related deliverables created in the course of employment or using Employer resources are the exclusive property of the Employer. This includes any work created on personal time that directly relates to the Employer's business or industry, or results from the use of any Employer-owned data, resources, or intellectual property.

The Employee acknowledges Iowa's Uniform Trade Secrets Act and Iowa Code 550, and agrees to protect the Employer's trade secrets.

Pre-Existing IP: The Employee must provide express written notice of any pre-existing IP or codebase they intend to utilize in their work for the Employer. This notice must be provided within [Number] days of the Effective Date of this contract.

6. Open-Source Contributions and Use

The Employee must obtain written advance approval from the Employer for any external code or project participation involving open-source projects. This approval will consider intellectual property, confidentiality, and security concerns.

Any contributions to open source projects during employment must be explicitly approved by the employer and will be subject to a separate contribution agreement as needed.

7. Confidentiality

The Employee agrees to hold all proprietary source code, work products, customer or user data, technical, business, and financial information confidential, both during and after the term of employment.

The Employee acknowledges that such information constitutes trade secrets under Iowa law.

8. Information Security and Acceptable Use

The Employee will adhere to all Employer policies regarding information security, including but not limited to:

• Encryption requirements
• Code review obligations
• Security patch management
• Incident response duties
• Reporting suspected breaches

The employee is responsible for maintaining the security of their workstation and any company data stored on it, whether that workstation is employer-provided or the employee’s personal device.

9. Employee Conduct, Anti-Harassment, and Equal Employment

The Employee will comply with all Employer policies regarding employee conduct, anti-harassment, equal employment opportunity, anti-retaliation, diversity, and inclusion, which are compliant with Iowa Code 216 (covering gender, race, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation, and gender identity).

10. Non-Compete, Non-Solicitation, and Non-Disclosure

Non-Compete: The Employee agrees not to engage in any business activity that directly competes with the Employer's business within [Geographic Area, e.g., a 50-mile radius of Des Moines, Iowa] for a period of [Number] months following termination of employment, provided the activity is similar to their role at [Company Name]. This restriction applies only to roles substantially similar to the role as [Position] with [Company Name].

Non-Solicitation: The Employee agrees not to solicit employees or customers of the Employer for a period of [Number] months following termination of employment.

Non-Disclosure: The Employee's obligations of confidentiality, as detailed in Section 7, shall continue indefinitely after termination of employment.

These restrictions are intended to protect the Employer's legitimate business interests, including trade secrets and customer relationships. Iowa courts will enforce reasonable, narrowly drawn post-employment covenants. The parties agree that a court of competent jurisdiction may "blue pencil" (modify) this provision to render it reasonable and enforceable under Iowa law. The parties expressly prohibit industrywide restrictions or excessive duration of this clause.

11. At-Will Employment

The Employee's employment is at-will, meaning that either the Employee or the Employer may terminate the employment relationship at any time, for any lawful reason, with or without cause or notice, subject to the notice provisions outlined below.

Notice Period:

• The Employee agrees to provide the Employer with [Number] weeks' written notice of resignation.
• The Employer may provide the Employee with [Number] weeks' written notice of termination, or pay in lieu of notice, at the Employer's sole discretion, except in cases of gross misconduct.

Upon termination, the Employee will receive their final wage payment in compliance with Iowa Code 91A.

Upon termination, the Employee must return all company-owned property, devices, repositories, and access credentials.

12. Separation Provisions

In the event of involuntary termination, layoff, resignation, or job abandonment, the following will apply:

• Unused vacation time will be paid out in accordance with Iowa law and Employer policy.
• The Employee will be provided with information regarding COBRA/mini-COBRA rights (as applicable).
• References will be provided in accordance with Employer policy.

13. Dispute Resolution

The parties agree to attempt to resolve any disputes arising out of or relating to this Agreement through good-faith negotiation.

Mediation/Arbitration (Optional): The parties may agree to submit any unresolved disputes to mediation or arbitration in Iowa. If arbitration is elected, the arbitrator will be selected from a list of Iowa-based arbitrators.

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Iowa, without regard to its conflict of law principles. The venue for any legal proceedings relating to this Agreement shall be in [County Name] County, Iowa.

14. Workers' Compensation and Occupational Safety

The Employee is covered by the Employer's workers' compensation insurance, as required by Iowa law.

The Employee is entitled to rights and protections under Iowa's Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA).

[Describe any company-provided resources, such as wellness programs or employee assistance for mental health]

15. Mandatory Wage and Hour Notices

The Employer will provide the Employee with mandatory wage and hour notices in accordance with the Iowa Division of Labor Services requirements.

16. Data Privacy, Remote Monitoring, and BYOD

[Describe data privacy, remote monitoring, and BYOD (bring your own device) policies clarifying permitted use, employer access, and expectations for safeguarding company and client information in line with both Iowa and relevant federal laws]

17. Code Review and Compliance

The Employee acknowledges that their code will be subject to regular code review by other members of the development team.

The Employer may conduct periodic IP audits and compliance checks as standard for software development disciplines.

18. Entire Agreement

This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous communications and proposals, whether oral or written.

Amendment: This Agreement may be amended only by a written instrument signed by both parties.

Severability: If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable, such provision shall be struck and the remaining provisions shall be enforced.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date.

[Company Name]

By: [Employer Signature]

Name: [Employer Printed Name]

Title: [Employer Title]

[Employee Name]

By: [Employee Signature]

Name: [Employee Printed Name]