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Retention Bonus Agreement
Free retention bonus agreement template — a company offers a bonus to an employee for staying through a specific date or event.
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This free retention bonus agreement covers 1. Retention Bonus, 2. Retention Date, 3. Payment Timing, 4. Early Departure, 5. Not a Guarantee of Employment with 5 clearly marked [placeholder] fields to fill in — built for small business owners and first-time managers handling an HR moment professionally without a dedicated HR department to lean on. Copy it into your own word processor, fill in the placeholders, and review it — or adapt it — before use. It's part of docstoc's free document template library, alongside business, legal, real estate, finance, and HR templates. Every template here is free to copy with no signup required, and each one carries a plain disclaimer: this is a starting point for informational purposes, not a substitute for advice from a licensed professional in your jurisdiction.
Retention Bonus Agreement
Company: [Company Name] · Employee: [Name] · Date: [Date]
1. Retention Bonus
In consideration of Employee's continued employment through the Retention Date, Company will pay Employee a retention bonus of [Amount].
2. Retention Date
Employee must remain actively employed in good standing through [Date/event, e.g. "the closing of the acquisition" or "December 31, 2026"] to earn this bonus.
3. Payment Timing
The bonus will be paid within [Number] days after the Retention Date, via normal payroll, less applicable withholdings.
4. Early Departure
If Employee resigns or is terminated for cause before the Retention Date, no bonus is payable. [If applicable: "If Employee is terminated without cause before the Retention Date, the bonus will be paid on a prorated basis / in full."]
5. Not a Guarantee of Employment
This Agreement does not change Employee's at-will employment status or guarantee continued employment through the Retention Date.
Company: ______________________ Date: ____________ Employee: ______________________ Date: ____________
*Being explicit about what happens on an involuntary termination before the retention date (Section 4) is the detail most often disputed — an employee let go through no fault of their own one week before the retention date has a very different view of fairness than the company's default "no bonus" rule.*
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What's included
- Edit online — click the document, fill in placeholders, download a PDF
- 5 standard sections: 1. Retention Bonus, 2. Retention Date, 3. Payment Timing, 4. Early Departure, 5. Not a Guarantee of Employment
- 5 clearly marked [placeholder] fields for quick personalizing
- Free to use — no account or signup required
- Fully editable — adjust any clause to match your actual situation
- Includes a signature block, ready to print or sign digitally
- Fixed docstoc.io footer on every PDF (not removable)
Who this template is for
Freelancers & solo founders
Handling routine business paperwork without commissioning custom legal drafting for every document.
Small businesses
Standardizing recurring documents — leases, agreements, notices — across a growing operation.
Anyone reviewing before signing
Using a clear starting structure to understand what a document should cover, even if a lawyer finalizes it.
Growing teams
Formalizing hiring and performance processes as a company adds its first employees.
FAQ
Is this retention bonus agreement template really free?
Yes. Like every template in docstoc's library, this retention bonus agreement is free to use, with no account or signup needed to view, edit, or download it.
What does this retention bonus agreement cover?
This hr template includes 1. Retention Bonus, 2. Retention Date, 3. Payment Timing, 4. Early Departure. Fill in the [bracketed] placeholders, edit any clause online, then download a PDF — the docstoc.io footer stays on every export.
Is this legal advice?
No. Employment documents sit on top of a mix of federal, state, and sometimes city labor law — at-will employment rules, required notices, and what you can and can't put in writing all vary. Have an employment attorney or HR professional confirm this fits your jurisdiction before you use it.
Can I edit the wording?
Yes — edit directly on the page, adjust any section or clause, and re-fill the 5 placeholder fields to match your situation before downloading a PDF. It's a starting structure, not a rigid script.
Where can I find more free templates like this?
Browse more free hr and related document templates in the docstoc library at /document-templates/.
More free document templates
- Employee Offer Letter
- Employee Written Warning / Disciplinary Notice
- Employment Agreement
- Cover Letter
- Employee Handbook Outline
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