Retaining Employment Records
How long should employment records be kept after an employee has left?
Guidance for NHS Trusts and PCTs suggests the following (which is considered as an appropriate guide for practices to follow):
'Major' employment records (e.g. Personal files, letters of appointment, contracts, references & related correspondence)
- Keep for 6 years after subject of file leaves service, or until subject's 70th birthday, whichever is the later. Only the summary needs to be kept to age 70; remainder of file can be destroyed 6 years after subject leaves service
'Minor' employment records (e.g. attendance books, annual leave records, duty rosters, clock cards, timesheets)
- Keep for 2 years
Click here for a draft Record Retention Policy which you can save on your PC or print (opens a new window, close that window to return here).