How Long Should We Maintain Electronic Personnel Files for Terminated Employees?
computer image by blaine stiger from Fotolia.com jQuery(document).ready(function(){ jQuery(‘#jsArticleStep1 span.image a:first’).attr(‘href’,’http://i.ehow.co.uk/images/a06/i1/47/long-personnel-files-terminated-employees_-1.1-800X800.jpg’); }); How long you keep electronic personnel files depends on state laws. Seven Years Is Recommended According to Business Owner’s Toolkit, an advice service for small businesses, you should keep a terminated employee’s file (whether in electronic format or hard copy) for seven years. This will allow you to easily provide a reference for the employee or resolve any disputes about the reasons for termination. Laws Vary by State According to Business Management Daily’s advice columnist Jonathan Hyman, “How long employers should keep personnel files is more a function of state law than anything else.” Laws on how long to keep various documents in an employee’s personnel file vary by state, so it’s important that you know your state’s laws. Bottom Line Ch
