All organisations collect data relating to their employees – their HR records - including information such as pay levels, sickness absence, or hours worked. HR records can be stored in hardcopy or electronically but it is important for organisations to keep the information well-organised and in an appropriate system so that it complies with relevant legislation and can be easily retrieved.
This factsheet introduces the legal position on the retention of HR records, including the Data Protection Act and Employee Practices code, and provides guidance on where to find full guidance in these areas. It also offers two checklists: One giving statutory retention periods for information such as accident records or income tax returns, and the other giving recommendations for retaining non-statutory information such as application forms or parental leave information.
