What is a seasonal employment agreement?
A seasonal employment agreement is a short fixed-term contract for work that only exists part of the year: ski resorts and summer camps, farms at harvest, retail over the holidays, tourism and hospitality in peak season. Seasonal staff are employees, with the same core rights as anyone else, but the job has a built-in end date — and often extras like staff accommodation, a season pass or an end-of-season bonus that need to be written down.
This template sets out the job and duties, the start and end dates, an optional clause letting the employer bring the end date forward with notice if the season finishes early, the working schedule, pay and pay frequency, an optional end-of-season bonus for staying to the end, holiday and sick pay as the law provides, staff accommodation and perks, uniform and equipment, health and safety (including young workers), conduct, early ending by notice and a statement that there is no automatic right to a job next season.
- Best for
- Resorts, camps, farms, retail, hospitality and events hiring for a season
- Signed by
- The employer and the seasonal employee
- Extras
- Optional end-of-season bonus, staff housing and perks, uniform
- Length
- 2–3 pages, initialled on every page
When to Use a seasonal employment agreement
- A ski resort hiring lift operators, instructors and rental staff for the winter
- A summer camp or outdoor centre hiring counsellors and activity staff
- A farm or vineyard hiring pickers for the harvest
- A shop or warehouse taking on extra staff for the holiday season
- A beach bar, hotel or tour operator staffing up for peak tourist months
What You Fill In
22 blanks, then the name and email of each person who signs: employer, employee.
1 The parties
- Date of this agreement*
- Employer (business name)*
- Employer address
- Employee's full name*
- Employee's address
2 The job
- Season*
- Job title*
- Main duties*
- Place of work*
- Start date*
- End date*
- If the season ends early, notice given (days)
3 Hours and pay
- Working hours and schedule*
- Currency*
- Pay rate (gross)*
- Per* hour · day · week · month
- Paid* weekly · every two weeks · twice a month · monthly
- End-of-season bonus
4 Extras
- Accommodation, meals or other perks
- Uniform and equipment
5 Other terms
- Notice to end the job before the end date (days)*
- Governing law*
6 Who signs
- Employer signature and date, job title, initials on every page · An owner or manager authorised to hire for the business.
- Employee signature and date, initials on every page · The seasonal worker. If they are under 18, check local rules for young workers and whether a parent or guardian must also consent.
What the seasonal employment agreement Covers
- Job and duties
- Dates of employment
- Hours
- Pay
- Accommodation and extras
- Uniform and equipment
- Health and safety
- Conduct and confidentiality
- Ending the job early
- General
Using the seasonal employment agreement, step by step
1 Describe the job and the season
Name the season ("the 2026–27 winter ski season"), the job title, main duties and place of work. Enter the start and end dates. If the season could finish early — poor snow, an early harvest — add a notice period so the employer can bring the end date forward.
2 Set the schedule and pay
Describe the shift pattern, and enter the pay rate (at least the applicable minimum wage), whether it is per hour, day, week or month, and how often it is paid. An end-of-season bonus rewards staff who stay to the end.
3 Add housing and perks
If you provide staff accommodation, meals, a season pass or other perks, describe them and any charge. The agreement makes clear that staff housing ends with the job and sets a move-out period of at least any legal minimum.
4 Send one to each starter
Set the notice period for ending early and the governing law, then send it. Each seasonal worker signs online from their phone — no account needed.
Tips Before You Send It
- Seasonal workers are usually still entitled to paid holiday, sick pay and overtime as the law provides — the template defers to local rules.
- Deductions for accommodation can be limited by law, especially for minimum-wage workers. Check before charging for staff housing.
- For workers under 18, check the rules on hours and tasks and whether a parent or guardian must also consent.
- Make sure every seasonal worker has proof of their right to work before they start.
Sign It Online In Minutes
- Fill in the blanks. Names, dates and amounts go straight into the agreement — the preview shows exactly where.
- Name who signs. Tick “This is me” for your own part. VergeHR builds the PDF with every signature, date and initials box on the right line, and you can check or move anything before sending.
- Send it. Each signer gets a secure link and signs from any device — no account needed. The signed PDF, with an audit trail and a Certificate of Completion, is filed in Files and emailed to everyone.
Seasonal employment agreement: frequently asked questions
What happens at the end of the season?
The employment ends on the end date without further notice, unless the law requires notice. Any holiday built up but not taken is paid with the final pay where the law requires, along with any end-of-season bonus earned.
Can I end the job early if the season finishes early?
Yes, if you fill in the early-end notice period. The employer can then bring the end date forward by giving that notice, or pay in place of the part not given. Either side can also end the job early with the general notice period.
Do seasonal staff have a right to come back next year?
No. The agreement says it doesn't create a right to future seasonal or permanent work, although the employer may invite the employee back.
Can seasonal workers sign electronically?
Yes. In most countries, including the US (ESIGN Act and UETA), the UK, the EU (eIDAS) and Canada, electronic signatures are generally valid for employment contracts. Workers sign from any device, and VergeHR keeps an audit trail with the signed PDF.