Employment Offer Letter - Massachusetts

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Company Header
2. Candidate Information
3. Position Details
4. Compensation
5. Benefits Summary
6. At-Will Employment Disclaimer
7. Reporting Structure & Work Location
8. Contingencies
9. Massachusetts-Specific Requirements
10. Confidentiality & Intellectual Property
11. Acceptance & Signature Block
12. Massachusetts State Notes

EMPLOYMENT OFFER LETTER — MASSACHUSETTS

1. COMPANY HEADER

[COMPANY NAME]
[COMPANY ADDRESS]
[CITY], Massachusetts [ZIP CODE]
Phone: [PHONE NUMBER] | Email: [EMAIL ADDRESS]

Date: [__/__/____]

2. CANDIDATE INFORMATION

To:
[CANDIDATE FULL NAME]
[CANDIDATE ADDRESS]
[CITY], [STATE] [ZIP CODE]

Re: Offer of Employment

Dear [CANDIDATE FIRST NAME],

We are pleased to extend this offer of employment with [COMPANY NAME] (the "Company"). This letter sets forth the terms and conditions of your employment, subject to the contingencies described herein.

3. POSITION DETAILS

4. COMPENSATION

4.1 Base Compensation

☐ Annual Salary: $[________________________________] per year, paid on a [☐ weekly ☐ bi-weekly] basis.

☐ Hourly Rate: $[________________________________] per hour.

4.2 Pay Transparency Disclosure (M.G.L. c.149, §105F)

Pursuant to Massachusetts law (effective October 29, 2025), for employers with 25 or more employees:

• Pay Range Minimum: $[________________________________]
• Pay Range Maximum: $[________________________________]

4.3 Overtime

Non-exempt employees are entitled to overtime pay at 1.5 times the regular rate for hours worked over 40 in a workweek, pursuant to M.G.L. c.151, §1A.

4.4 Bonus / Commission Structure

☐ Signing Bonus: $[________________________________], subject to the following terms: [________________________________]

☐ Performance Bonus: [________________________________]

☐ Commission Plan: [________________________________]

☐ Not Applicable

5. BENEFITS SUMMARY

You will be eligible for the following benefits, subject to plan terms and applicable waiting periods:

6. AT-WILL EMPLOYMENT DISCLAIMER

IMPORTANT — PLEASE READ CAREFULLY:

Your employment with [COMPANY NAME] is "at-will." This means that either you or the Company may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause, and with or without advance notice. Massachusetts follows the at-will employment doctrine.

No manager, supervisor, or representative of the Company, other than [AUTHORIZED OFFICER TITLE], has the authority to enter into any agreement for employment for any specified period of time or to make any agreement contrary to the foregoing by written agreement signed by [AUTHORIZED OFFICER TITLE].

Recognized Exceptions: Massachusetts courts recognize exceptions including the public policy exception (e.g., termination for jury duty service or filing a workers' compensation claim), implied contract exception (e.g., handbook provisions), and a limited covenant of good faith and fair dealing exception (primarily applicable to earned compensation and commissions).

7. REPORTING STRUCTURE & WORK LOCATION

8. CONTINGENCIES

This offer is contingent upon the satisfactory completion of the following:

☐ Background Check — Conducted in compliance with Massachusetts CORI laws (M.G.L. c.6, §171A) and the Massachusetts Ban the Box law

☐ Drug Screening — [________________________________]

Form I-9 onboarding: After offer acceptance, the employee and employer will complete Form I-9 on the schedule in the current USCIS employee instructions and employer instructions.

☐ Proof of Licensure / Certification — [________________________________]

☐ Reference Check — [________________________________]

☐ Other — [________________________________]

9. MASSACHUSETTS-SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

9.1 Salary History Ban (M.G.L. c.149, §105A)

The Company has not sought your wage or salary history. Effective July 1, 2018, Massachusetts law prohibits employers from seeking the wage or salary history of a prospective employee.

9.2 Pay Transparency and EEO Reporting (M.G.L. c.149, §§105E–105F)

Beginning October 29, 2025, employers with 25 or more Massachusetts employees must disclose pay ranges in job postings and provide the range to employees offered a promotion or transfer, and to applicants or employees in the position on request (§ 105F).

Separately, an employer with at least 100 Massachusetts employees that is subject to federal EEO report filing requirements must submit the applicable EEO report to the Secretary of the Commonwealth (§ 105E). The EEO-1 filing requirement began February 1, 2025; it is not a duty imposed on every employer with 25 or more employees.

9.3 Non-Compete Agreement (Massachusetts Noncompetition Agreement Act, M.G.L. c.149, §24L)

☐ A non-compete agreement will be required. Under the Massachusetts Noncompetition Agreement Act:

• Maximum duration: 12 months (extendable to 24 months in cases of breach of fiduciary duty or theft)
• Requires "garden leave" (at least 50% of highest annualized base salary in last 2 years during restricted period) OR other mutually agreed-upon consideration
• Prohibited for: non-exempt employees, undergraduate/graduate students, employees terminated without cause, employees under 18, and interns
• Must be in writing, signed by both parties, and state the employee's right to consult an attorney
• Must be provided by the earlier of a formal offer or 10 business days before employment begins (for new hires)

☐ No non-compete agreement will be required

9.4 Earned Sick Time (M.G.L. c.149, §148C)

You are entitled to accrue earned sick time at a rate of 1 hour for every 30 hours worked, up to 40 hours per year:

• Employers with 11+ employees: Sick time is paid
• Employers with fewer than 11 employees: Sick time may be unpaid

The Company will provide written notice of your earned sick time rights at the time of hire.

9.5 Paid Family and Medical Leave (M.G.L. c.175M)

Massachusetts PFML provides paid leave for:

• Medical leave for the employee's own serious health condition
• Family leave for bonding, caring for a family member, or military exigency
• Funded through employer and employee contributions

The Company will provide written notice of PFML benefits at the time of hire, as required by M.G.L. c.175M, §4.

9.6 Wage Payment Notice

Under the Wage Act (M.G.L. c.149, §148), the Company will notify you of your pay rate and payday at the time of hire.

10. CONFIDENTIALITY & INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

As a condition of employment, you will be required to sign the Company's:

☐ Confidentiality / Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)
☐ Invention Assignment Agreement
☐ Proprietary Information Agreement

11. ACCEPTANCE & SIGNATURE BLOCK

Please indicate your acceptance of this offer by signing below and returning this letter by [__/__/____].

Employer

Candidate Acceptance

By signing below, I acknowledge that I have read, understand, and accept the terms of this offer letter, including the at-will employment provisions.

12. MASSACHUSETTS STATE NOTES

This offer letter is governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Nothing in this letter creates a contract of employment for a definite period.

[COMPANY NAME]