Document Retention Laws For Employers

Full Video Transcript

Is paperwork threatening to take over your office? Do you long to sort through the clutter? Or do you simply need more space? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then you need to know what documents you must keep as an employer. State law determines how long employers must keep employee-related documents such as applications, references, testing results, reviews, payroll records and disciplinary reports. Some federal laws also require employers to keep documents. For example, the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Civil Rights Act require employers to keep records for one year after an action, such as a termination, was made. Other federal laws, such as the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act and the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act also have documentation retention requirements. It is important to understand the requirements of all applicable state and federal laws regarding document retention before heading to the shredding machine so that you can be confident that you are saving, and destroying, the right documents.