OFFER LETTER [SHORT FORM]
This template is a short-form offer letter for a new, indefinite-term hire in Alberta. It is employer-side: drafted to be offered by the Employer, and it is a binding employment agreement once signed — not a preliminary or courtesy document. "Short form" describes the length of the surrounding boilerplate, not the termination clause: section 7 carries the same termination architecture as the full employment-full-time-indefinite template, in full, because this letter is frequently the ONLY signed document governing the relationship. If the role is fixed-term rather than indefinite, use employment-fixed-term instead. Not suitable for use in Quebec.
Drafting notes appear in italics and are to be deleted before execution. Square brackets mark information to be filled in. Delete any inapplicable optional clauses and renumber before execution.
Do NOT reuse the Ontario version of this template's termination reasoning. Section 7 is drafted against the Alberta Employment Standards Code, R.S.A. 2000, c. E-9 (the "Code") directly.
⚠️ A short offer letter is still a complete contract. Do not shorten section 7 to make this document read more casually. An offer letter with no termination clause, or an incomplete one, simply leaves the Employee entitled to full common-law reasonable notice on termination.
⚠️ Termination-clause enforceability is uncertain and moving. How strictly an Alberta court will construe an ambiguous or partially deficient termination clause against the Employer is not settled here — I have not identified an Alberta authority in the registry I am confident enough in to state a rule. Have section 7 checked against the current leading Alberta authority before each significant use.
⚠️ If a fuller agreement is meant to follow, say so — and follow through. If the plan is to have the new hire sign a longer, more detailed employment agreement once they begin, section 8.2 flags it explicitly. Leaving this ambiguous risks a dispute over which document governs.
⚠️ Existing employees need fresh consideration. If this letter is being used to change the terms of someone who is already employed rather than to extend a new offer, Canadian courts generally require the Employer to give the employee something of genuine value in exchange. Take advice before using this letter with an existing employee.
[Employer Legal Name] [Employer Address]
[Date]
[Employee Name] [Employee Address]
Dear [Employee Name],
We are pleased to offer you employment with [Employer Legal Name] (the "Employer") on the terms set out in this letter (this "Agreement"). Please read it carefully.
Position, Start Date and Probation
Your position is [Job Title], reporting to [Title of Manager]. You will perform the duties normally associated with this position and any other duties reasonably assigned to you from time to time.
Your employment begins on [Start Date] and continues on an indefinite basis until terminated in accordance with section 7.
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About this template
What is this template?
This is a binding employment agreement that doubles as an offer letter, specifically tailored for the province of Alberta. It contains a Schedule A summary of key terms and provides two distinct options for without-cause termination notice. It is not a preliminary document or a fixed-term agreement.
When should you use it?
Use this document when hiring a full-time or part-time employee in Alberta without the need for an extensive multi-page contract. Use an employment-fixed-term template instead if the role has a pre-determined end date.
What's inside
| Clause | Name | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position, Start Date and Probation | Defines the Job Title, a start date, and a probationary period of a specified number of days. |
| 5 | Confidentiality, Work Product and Return of Property | Obliges the Employee to maintain confidentiality after employment and assigns all work product to the Employer. |
| 6 | Non-Solicitation | Prohibits the solicitation of employees or customers for a specified number of months following termination. |
| 7.1 | Termination by the Employer Without Cause | Provides for termination based on either the Alberta Employment Standards Code minimums or an enhanced contractual notice period. |
| 7.4 | Resignation | Requires the Employee to provide a specified number of weeks' written notice before resigning. |
| 8 | Acceptance and General | Sets an expiry date for the offer and establishes Alberta law as the governing jurisdiction. |
Who it's for
- an Alberta employer hiring a new employee on an indefinite-term basis
- a company needing a simplified employment contract that references the Alberta Employment Standards Code
- an employer extending a binding offer that includes specific intellectual property assignment and non-solicitation terms
How long it runs and how it's signed
Law it's drafted under
Canada note
This version is drafted for Canada. Provinces differ on employment standards and Quebec applies civil law rather than common law. Tell GitLaw which province applies and it adjusts the draft.
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