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SOW SaaS: Structuring an Implementation Contract in 2026
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9 min
HR Guide 2026
Electronic signature for HR: employment contracts and documents
Electronic signing of employment contracts has been legally recognised in France since the 2017 Macron ordinance (amended article L.1221-1 of the Labour Code). This guide explains how to use it correctly for employment contracts, amendments, mutual terminations and other HR documents.
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Legal framework: electronic signatures in employment law
Article L.1221-1 of the French Labour Code allows employment contracts to be concluded electronically. The required signature level depends on the contract type: SES or AES for the majority of permanent and fixed-term contracts, with reinforced evidential value (AES) recommended for mutual terminations and powers of attorney.
- Permanent / fixed-term: AES signature recommended (OTP SMS/email)
- Amendment: same level as the initial contract
- Mutual termination: AES recommended with OTP
- Temporary work contract: check the applicable collective agreements
Which HR documents can be signed electronically?
Employment contract (permanent, fixed-term, part-time)
Amendment to the employment contract
Engagement letter
Non-disclosure agreement (NDA)
IT acceptable-use policy
Onboarding documents
Remote-work agreement
Delegation form
What does a typical HR workflow with electronic signatures look like?
- 1
Create your contract template
Import your Word or PDF template. Define the fields to fill in (name, position, salary) and the signature zones.
- 2
Enter the candidate's information
Name, email and phone number of the future employee. Certyneo automatically sends the authentication OTP.
- 3
Send the contract
The employee receives an email with a secure link. They review and sign from any device.
- 4
Archive automatically
The signed PDF with its audit trail is archived for 10 years. Exportable at any time from your dashboard.
Frequently asked questions — Electronic signature and HR
- Is an electronically signed employment contract valid?
- Yes. Article L.1221-1 of the French Labour Code expressly allows employment contracts to be concluded electronically. Advanced electronic signature (AES) via OTP is recommended for its evidential value.
- What eIDAS signature level for a permanent employment contract?
- The law does not specify a minimum level, but practitioners and legal experts recommend AES (Advanced eIDAS Signature) with SMS OTP for employment contracts. Certyneo includes AES from the Personal plan (9 €/month).
- Does the employee need to create an account to sign?
- No. The employee receives an email link, reviews the contract and signs in a few clicks, without creating an account. Authentication is done via an OTP sent to their email or phone.
- How are signed contracts archived?
- Certyneo automatically archives every signed contract for 10 years with its time-stamped audit trail. PDFs can be downloaded at any time from your dashboard, individually or in bulk.