Employment Contracts for Sales Staff
This selection of contracts of employment is designed for a range of sales and retail roles, helping employers and HR personnel choose the most suitable template for the relevant employee. The templates include retail assistant contracts, sales representative and sales manager contracts, and a fixed-term retail assistant option.
Updated sales staff employment contracts
These sales staff employment contracts have been drafted and kept up to date by employment solicitors and HR professionals. The contracts have been updated to reflect the statutory sick pay changes set by the Employment Rights Act, under which SSP is now payable from the first full day of sickness absence.
The templates provide for the rules on what must be included in a written statement for new starters. Pre-existing employees can request a written statement that complies with these rules. These contracts comply with these requirements and must be provided to the employee or worker by day one of employment.
Retail assistant employment contracts
The Retail Assistant Employment Contract is designed for shop-based retail roles and includes clauses tailored to a retail environment. These include references to a staff rota, working outside normal retail opening hours to assist with preparation and closure, and appropriate rest breaks.
The Retail Assistant Fixed Term Employment Contract provides a fixed-term version for retail assistant roles where the employment is for a defined period.
Sales representative and sales manager contracts
The Sales Representative Employment Contract is intended for sales roles where enhanced restrictive covenant protection is required. The Sales Representative and Sales Manager contracts include a Schedule of Restrictive Covenants intended to provide enhanced protection for the employer.
For managerial sales roles, employers can use either the Sales Manager Employment Contract (No Car) or the Sales Manager Employment Contract (Commission Structure), depending on the role and remuneration structure.
Sales staff offer letters and matching contracts
An employment offer letter is usually issued before or alongside the contract of employment, so the offer, role, remuneration structure and contractual terms are consistent from the outset. The matching Sales Staff Employment Offer Letters can be used when making an offer for a sales representative, sales manager or retail assistant role.
Restrictive covenants in sales staff contracts
The restrictive covenants are designed to protect the employer’s legitimate business interests, for example, confidential customer information.
The employee is required to show a signed copy of the Restrictive Covenants Schedule to future employers, so prospective employers are aware of the agreed limitations on poaching customers, transactions and staff.
When is the employment contract formed?
An employment contract is made as soon as the employment offer is accepted.
Employment Contracts for Sales Staff is part of Employment. Just £38.50 + VAT provides unlimited downloads from Employment for 1 year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which sales or retail contract do I need: retail assistant, sales representative or sales manager? +
Choose based on the role. The Retail Assistant Employment Contract suits permanent shop-based staff; use the Retail Assistant Fixed Term Employment Contract when the role has a defined end date. The Sales Representative Employment Contract is for field or office sales roles where strong restrictive covenant protection is important. For managerial sales roles, choose either the Sales Manager Employment Contract (No Car) or the Sales Manager Employment Contract (Commission Structure) depending on whether the remuneration is salary-only or includes a commission element. All five templates are available in this sub-folder.
Do I have to give a new sales or retail employee their written contract on day one? +
Yes. Employers must provide the principal written statement of employment particulars on or before the employee's first day of work. This is a statutory requirement under the Employment Rights Act 1996 and applies to both employees and workers regardless of how long the engagement is expected to last. The Simply-Docs sales staff contracts are drafted to satisfy this requirement. Providing the contract at the offer stage or alongside the offer letter is good practice.
Why do the sales representative and sales manager contracts include a Restrictive Covenants Schedule, and what does it do? +
The Schedule of Restrictive Covenants in the Simply-Docs Sales Representative and Sales Manager contracts protects the employer's legitimate business interests, covering poaching of customers, transactions and staff, because sales staff often access confidential customer information, client relationships and commercially sensitive data. It requires the employee to show a signed copy to future employers, so they know the agreed restrictions. Under English law, such covenants are only enforceable if reasonable in scope, duration and geographical reach and they protect a genuine business interest. The templates provide a starting point; employers should take legal advice to tailor the restrictions to the role.
Can I use the retail assistant contract for a temporary Christmas or seasonal worker? +
No. The Retail Assistant Employment Contract is for permanent roles. For a temporary or seasonal retail assistant, use the Retail Assistant Fixed Term Employment Contract, which provides a fixed-term version for roles with a defined end date. Using a permanent contract for what is genuinely a fixed-term engagement can create unintended obligations, so choosing the correct template from the outset matters.
Should I issue a sales offer letter before the employment contract, and can they be used together? +
An employment offer letter is typically issued before or at the same time as the contract, so the role, remuneration and key terms are consistent from the start. The contract is legally formed as soon as the offer is accepted, so both documents should align. Simply-Docs provides a matching Sales Staff Employment Offer Letters page with templates for sales representative, sales manager and retail assistant roles, designed to work alongside the contracts in this sub-folder.
