HR & Employment Law Basics — Full Course Syllabus

Practical, legally-grounded fundamentals for drafting offer letters and employment contracts, implementing core hiring policies, and maintaining compliance during hiring and onboarding.

1. 1. Employment relationship typesDefines employee vs independent contractor and other worker classifications and the practical consequences for hiring.
2. 2. At-will employmentExplains the concept of at-will employment, typical employer/employee rights, and common exceptions.
3. 3. Offer letter purposeDescribes the role of an offer letter in the hiring process and how it differs from a contract.
4. 4. Essential offer letter elementsLists atomic elements an offer letter should include such as title, start date, compensation, reporting line, and contingency clauses.
5. 5. Expiration and acceptance mechanicsSpecifies how to set offer expiry dates, methods of acceptance, and handling counteroffers.
6. 6. Compensation componentsBreaks down base salary, bonuses, equity, commissions, and benefits as distinct compensation elements to disclose.
7. 7. Benefits summary statementsOutlines what high‑level benefits (health, retirement, PTO) should be summarized in hiring documents without substituting plan documents.
8. 8. At-will disclaimersShows concise ways to preserve at-will status in offer documents and avoid creating unintended contractual obligations.
9. 9. Anti-discrimination obligationsSummarizes employer prohibitions on discriminatory hiring and required nondiscriminatory practices.
10. 10. Right to work and I-9 verificationDescribes the process for verifying work eligibility and maintaining I-9 documentation without prescriptive forms.
11. 11. Recordkeeping requirementsSpecifies core records employers must retain related to hiring, payroll, and employment eligibility.
12. 12. Privacy notice for applicantsExplains what to tell applicants about collection, use, and retention of their personal data during hiring.
13. 13. Probationary periodsDefines probationary period purpose, how to document it, and its limits under employment law.
14. 14. Onboarding checklist itemsLists discrete administrative onboarding steps (forms, policies, access requests) that must be completed for new hires.
15. 15. Approvals and delegated authorities for offersDefines approval workflows and delegated authorities required before issuing offers or signing contracts.
16. 16. Record of offer and acceptanceSpecifies how to document offers, acceptances, and retractions to preserve audit trails and reduce disputes.
17. 17. When to involve legal counselLists specific red flags and contract elements that should trigger referral to employment counsel.
18. 18. Conditional offersExplains offers contingent on background checks, references, drug tests, or eligibility to work and how to state conditions.
19. 19. Equity grants basicsDefines stock options, RSUs, vesting schedules, and common terms to include in offer documentation.
20. 20. Employment contract fundamentalsIdentifies what makes a document a legally binding employment contract versus a non‑binding letter.
21. 21. Confidentiality / NDA clausesDefines narrow, enforceable confidentiality language and how to scope protected information.
22. 22. Invention assignment clausesExplains employer rights to employee inventions and typical contractual language to secure IP assignment.
23. 23. Termination and severance termsDescribes notice periods, grounds for termination, and common severance terms to include in contracts.
24. 24. Workplace policy incorporation by referenceExplains how to lawfully incorporate employee handbooks and policies into contracts by reference.
25. 25. Paid leave and accommodation basicsExplains employer obligations for statutory paid leave and reasonable accommodations at a high level.
26. 26. Background check complianceDetails legal limits and disclosure/authorization requirements when running applicant background checks.