Secondment agreement template
A secondment agreement sets out the terms on which an employee is lent by their employer to work for another organisation for a fixed time or project. It covers the dates and duties, who pays the salary and who recharges whom, confidentiality and intellectual property, and what happens when the secondment ends. It is signed by the employer, the host and the employee.
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What changes each time
21 values. Everything else is your wording, kept exactly.
The parties
- Date of the agreement
- Employer's full legal name
- Host organisation's full legal name
- Employee's full name
- Employee's home address
The secondment
- Role at the host
- Short description of the work
- Start date
- End date or project
- Working hours
- Place of work
- Host supervisor, name and job title
Pay and cost
- Date of the employment contract
- Secondment allowance
- Cost recharged to the host
- How the host pays
- Payment timing
Ending the secondment
- Notice period
- Role returned to
- Months of non-solicitation
Signatories
- Names and job titles
The rules it usually needs
Written in plain English when the template is set up.
- One of several wordings
“For each of the employer and the host: a company registered in England and Wales, or another kind of organisation.”
The document carries the wording for whichever applies, and the other wording is left out.
- One of several wordings
“The secondment ends on a fixed date, or on completion of a project.”
The document carries the wording for whichever applies, and the other wording is left out.
- Only when…
“Include a secondment allowance only when there is an allowance.”
When this applies, a secondment allowance is included; when it does not, it is left out and the rest of the document is unchanged.
- One of several wordings
“The host repays the full cost of the secondee's salary, employer's National Insurance and pension, or a percentage, or a fixed fee.”
The document carries the wording for whichever applies, and the other wording is left out.
- One of several wordings
“The host pays the employer directly, or through the employer's invoice.”
The document carries the wording for whichever applies, and the other wording is left out.
- Only when…
“Include the intellectual property clause only when the host is an external organisation.”
When this applies, the intellectual property clause is included; when it does not, it is left out and the rest of the document is unchanged.
- One of several wordings
“Intellectual property: the employer assigns it to the host, or licenses it.”
The document carries the wording for whichever applies, and the other wording is left out.
- One of several wordings
“The secondee returns to their previous role, or to a role on terms no less favourable.”
The document carries the wording for whichever applies, and the other wording is left out.
- Only when…
“Include a non-solicitation period only when it is agreed.”
When this applies, a non-solicitation period is included; when it does not, it is left out and the rest of the document is unchanged.
Questions people ask
What is a secondment?
A secondment is a temporary arrangement where an employee is lent by their employer to another organisation, the host, to work for it for a set time. The employee stays employed by the original employer and returns to them at the end.
Who is the employer during a secondment?
Normally the original employer, which continues to pay the secondee and remains responsible for their employment rights. The host directs the daily work and usually reimburses the cost.
What should a secondment agreement cover?
The dates and duties, hours and place of work, who pays and who recharges, confidentiality, intellectual property, holiday and sickness, and what happens when the secondment ends or is cut short.
Does the secondee have to agree to a secondment?
Usually yes. Unless the employee's contract already gives the employer the right to second them, the employee's agreement is needed, which is why the secondee signs the agreement.
Who owns the work the secondee produces?
Work done by an employee in the course of their employment normally belongs to the employer, so the agreement should say whether the employer assigns it to the host or licenses it.
Use this template
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