Minnesota software developer employment contract template

Minnesota Software Developer Employment Contract

This Minnesota Software Developer Employment Contract ("Agreement") is made and effective as of [Effective Date], by and between [Employer Legal Name], a [Employer Type, e.g., Corporation] organized and existing under the laws of Minnesota, with its principal place of business at [Employer Address] ("Employer"), and [Employee Legal Name], residing at [Employee Address] ("Employee").

Agreement

• Option A: This is a full-time employment agreement.
• Option B: This is a part-time employment agreement.

Job Title and Responsibilities

The Employee is hired as a Software Developer. The Employee’s duties include, but are not limited to:

• Software architecture design and implementation.
• Programming in languages such as Python, Java, C#, and JavaScript.
• Debugging, code review, and system analysis.
• Drafting technical specifications.
• Software testing and quality assurance.
• CI/CD pipeline integration.
• Participation in agile ceremonies (scrum, stand-ups, sprint reviews).
• Collaborative coding and DevOps tasks.
• Adherence to SDLC best practices.
• Use of development tools like Git, Docker, Kubernetes, and Azure/AWS.
• Compliance with Employer’s secure development standards.

• Option A: The Employee is required to maintain [List Certifications] certifications.
• Option B: The Employee is expected to participate in ongoing technical training as per Employer policy.

Reporting Structure

• The Employee will report directly to [Supervisor Name], [Supervisor Title].
• The Employee is expected to collaborate with cross-functional teams as needed.

Work Location

• The primary work location is the Employer’s office located at [Employer Address] in Minnesota.
• Option A: This position is eligible for remote work as per the Employer’s remote work policy.
• Option B: This is a hybrid work arrangement as per the Employer’s hybrid work policy.
• Option C: Employer will provide secure hardware, VPN access, and data protection measures, complying with Minnesota data breach notification laws.

Employment Type and Hours

• This is a full-time position.
• The Employee's standard work week is [Number] hours.
• Option A: The Employee is eligible for overtime pay as per Minnesota wage and hour laws (Minn. Stat. §177).
• Option B: The Employee is exempt from overtime pay.
• The Employee is entitled to meal and rest breaks as required by Minnesota law.

Compensation

• The Employee’s annual base salary is [Salary Amount], payable [Pay Period, e.g., bi-weekly].
• The Employee’s hourly rate is [Hourly Rate Amount], payable [Pay Period, e.g., bi-weekly].
• Payment will be made via [Method of Payment, e.g., direct deposit].
• The Employee authorizes wage deductions as permitted by Minnesota law.
• Option A: The Employee is eligible for a project-based bonus of [Bonus Amount] upon successful completion of [Project Name].
• Option B: The Employee is eligible for annual merit increases based on performance.
• Option C: The Employee is eligible for profit sharing as per the Employer’s profit-sharing plan.
• Option D: The Employee is eligible for equity options as per the Employer's equity option plan.

Benefits

The Employee is eligible for the following benefits:

• Group health insurance.
• Dental insurance.
• Vision insurance.
• Life insurance.
• 401(k) or Minnesota Secure Choice plan participation.
• Paid Time Off (PTO) as per Employer policy.
• Minnesota-mandated sick and safe leave (at least 48 hours annual accrual) according to Minnesota law.
• Option A: Paid parental leave.
• Holidays as designated by the Employer.
• Bereavement leave.
• Option A: Tech training reimbursement as per Employer policy.
• Option B: Home office/commuting stipend of [Stipend Amount].

The Employer reserves the right to modify or terminate benefits at its discretion.

Intellectual Property

• All code, systems, documentation, apps, APIs, designs, or know-how developed by the Employee during employment are the sole property of the Employer.
• The Employee agrees to assign all rights to such intellectual property to the Employer.
• Any open-source contributions must be pre-approved by the Employer and comply with the Employer's open-source policy and Minnesota trade secrets protections (Minn. Stat. §325C).

Confidentiality

The Employee agrees to hold all technical, business, client, and data information confidential, both during and after employment, according to Minnesota’s Uniform Trade Secrets Act.

Outside Activities

The Employee must obtain written consent from the Employer before engaging in any external software development, side projects, or participation in tech user groups, hackathons, or open-source projects.

Professional Conduct and Security

• The Employee must adhere to the company’s information security guidelines (including MDM, network access, and prohibited software).
• The Employee will participate in code audits as required.
• The Employee must report any data security or cybersecurity incidents according to Minnesota data breach regulations.

• Option A: The Employee must adhere to additional security requirements linked to health information (HIPAA).
• Option B: The Employee must adhere to additional security requirements linked to financial information (GLBA).

Non-Compete

As of July 1, 2023, Minnesota law (Minn. Stat. §181.988) significantly restricts the enforceability of non-compete agreements. Therefore, this agreement does not contain a non-compete clause beyond what is permitted by Minnesota law (primarily confidentiality, non-disclosure, and non-solicitation agreements).

At-Will Employment and Termination

• This is an at-will employment relationship, meaning either party may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or notice, subject to Minnesota law.
• Upon termination, the Employee will receive their final wage payment in accordance with Minnesota law.
• The Employee must return all Employer-owned equipment and software upon termination.
• Option A: The Employee is eligible for severance pay as per the Employer’s severance policy.
• The Employee agrees to provide reasonable notice and cooperation to ensure a smooth transition.
• This section complies with Minnesota discharge, unemployment, and anti-retaliation statutes.

Dispute Resolution

• The Employer provides an internal complaint process for employee concerns.
• Option A: Any mediation or arbitration must be agreed upon separately in writing and is not a pre-condition for employment.
• This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Minnesota. Any legal action related to this Agreement shall be brought in the state or federal courts located in Minnesota.

Workers’ Compensation and Safety

• The Employee is covered by the Employer’s Minnesota workers’ compensation insurance policy.
• The Employee must adhere to all workplace safety guidelines.
• Option A: The Employer offers mental health resources and an Employee Assistance Program.

Anti-Discrimination and Equal Opportunity

The Employer is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant based on race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, disability, public assistance status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, or veteran status, as protected by the Minnesota Human Rights Act.

The Employer is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Optional/Adjustable Clauses

This Agreement may be adjusted or supplemented with additional clauses to fit specific employer or department needs, accommodating custom job requirements, remote/on-site arrangements, special compliance needs, or evolving industry standards.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

____________________________
[Employer Representative Name]

[Employer Representative Title]

[Employer Legal Name]

____________________________
[Employee Legal Name]

Date: [Date]