Types of Employment Contracts A defined lump sum plan expresses employees' pension benefits as a lump sum amount, which makes it easy for them to understand and appreciate the benefits. In many cases, the plans also allow employees to accrue larger benefits at younger ages than they would under a traditional pension plan. And, increasingly, defined lump sum plans provide "portable" benefits that employees can take with them if they leave the company before retirement age. Cost plus percentage contract: Cost-plus construction contracts are often used for projects in which an owner or developer wishes to retain flexibility in selecting constructi