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HR

Records Retention Schedule Human Resources Management

Last updated: 9 February 2022

Activity TypeDocument TypeRetention Period*Action**Citation
1.0 Recruitment:
Authorising recruitment; advertising
vacancies; handling enquiries about vacancies;
processing employment applications;
reviewing and responding to unsolicited
applications for employment.
1.1 Advertising of vacanciesCompletion of recruitment process +6
months
DestroyJISC guidance
1.2 Enquiries about vacancies and requests
for application forms
Completion of recruitment processDestroyJISC guidance
1.3 Individual job descriptions and personal
specifications
Termination of employment +6 yearsDestroyLimitations Act 1980 c.58
1.4 Unsuccessful applications forms;
including CVs and References
Completion of recruitment process +6
months
DestroyCIPD
1.5 Successful application forms; including
CVs and References
Termination of employment +6 yearsDestroyJISC guidance
1.6 Review/short listing of applicantsCompletion of appointment +6 monthsDestroyCIPD
1.7 Selection of employee:
Interview notes
Test results
Completion of appointment +6 monthsDestroyCIPD
1.8 Equal Opportunities:
Anonymised data for HESA return
Completion of data collection and
analysis
DestroyJISC guidance
1.9 Unsolicited applicationsLast response to the applicantDestroyJISC guidance
2.0 Induction:
Developing general and role-specific induction
programmes for new employee; administering
induction programmes to ensure that all new
employees complete the required
programme
2.1 Developments and/or overall delivery or
assessment of the induction programme
Current year +6 yearsDestroyJISC guidance
2.2 Records documenting the
administration of the induction programme;
including feedback forms
Completion of programme +1 year OR
Termination
DestroyJISC guidance
3.0 Training and Development:
Identifying and analysing training needs and
how to meet these needs;
developing/selecting training and
development programmes; monitoring,
collecting and analysing the following:
Take-up
Feedback
Impact of training and development
programmes
3.1 Identification and summary of employee
development needs
Current year +6 yearsJISC guidance
3.2 Records documenting the developments
of employee programmes to meet the
defined needs
Completion of programme +6 yearsJISC guidance
3.3 Individual feedback on training and
development programmes: evaluations
Completion of analysis on feedbackJISC guidance
3.4 Records documenting (anonymised)
workforce feedback on training and
development programmes
Current year +6 yearsJISC guidance
3.5 The administration of induction and or
training programmes
Current year +1 yearJISC guidance
3.6 Analysis of feedback from induction or
training programme
Current year +2 yearsJISC guidance
3.7 Records documenting analyses of the
impact of training and development
programmes
Current year + 6 yearsJISC guidance
4.0 Performance Management:
Monitoring of employee performance
including – designing methods of measuring
4.1 Records documenting Staff Review and
Development (SRD) Scheme
Superseded +3 yearsJISC guidance
4.2 Records conducting the development of
workforce performance assessment
systems
Life of system +5 yearsJISC guidance
5.0 Remuneration and Reward Management:
The activities involved in developing and
implementing workforce pay structures and
reward schemes
5.1 Records documenting the development
of the University’s remuneration structure
Current year +10 yearsJISC guidance
5.2 Records documenting a pay reviewCurrent year +5 yearsJISC guidance
5.3 Records documenting special rewards
schemes
Termination of scheme +5 yearsJISC guidance
6.0 Employee Welfare Management:
The activities involved in monitoring
employee welfare and ensuring compliance
with legislation.
6.1 The hours worked by employees
including those who have agreed to work
more than 48 hours a week, as required by
the Working Time Regulations 1998
Date of record +2 yearsJISC guidance
6.2 Records documenting health
assessments for night workers, and the
results of assessments, as required by the
Working Time Regulations 1998
Date of record +2 yearsJISC guidance
7.0 Workforce Relations: Developing and
implementing mechanisms for communicating
with, and consulting, the workforce;
conducting workforce surveys and reviewing
and responding to the results
7.1 Records containing (identifiable)
individual responses to workforce surveys
and consultations
Completion of analysis of responsesJISC guidance
7.2 Records containing summary
(anonymised) results of workforce surveys
and consultations
Completion of survey + 5 yearsJISC guidance
7.3 Grievances, those records raised by staff
(that don’t relate directly to the their
Last action of case +6 yearsJISC guidance
8.0 Industrial Relations: Managing
recognition and de-recognition of trades
unions; managing communication and
consultation with trades unions and labour
organisations conducting collective bargaining
on behalf of the workforce.
8.1 The University’s recognition of trades
unions
(De)recognition +20 yearsReviewJISC guidance
8.2 Agreements with trade unionTermination of agreement +20 yearsReviewJISC guidance
8.3 Routine communications with the trade
unions representatives, including minutes of
meetings
Current year +20 yearsReviewJISC guidance
8.4 Records documenting
consultations/negotiations with trade
unions on specific issues
Last action on issue +20 yearsReviewJISC guidance
9.0 Employee Contract
Management:

Maintaining complete and accurate records of
individual employees’ recruitment, induction,
performance, discipline, training and
development, occupational health and
welfare, leave, pensions and termination;
providing employment references for current
and former employees
9.1 Contract of employmentTermination of employment +6 yearsDestroyJISC guidance
9.2 Initial application for employment and
supporting documentation supplied by third
parties (i.e. references, Disclosure or Barring
Service (DBS) checks)
Termination of employment +6 yearsDestroyJISC guidance
9.3 Subsequent applications for other
vacancies within the University
Termination of employment +6 yearsDestroyJISC guidance
9.4 Changes to employee terms and
conditions of employment
Termination of employment +6 yearsDestroyJISC guidance
9.5 Disciplinary warnings issued against the
employee, where employment continues
12 months after closure of caseDestroyJISC guidance
9.6 Grievances raised by the employee
which relates directly with their contract of
employment, University’s response, action
taken and the outcome
Closure of case +6 yearsDestroyJISC guidance
9.7 Employee remuneration and rewardsTermination of employment +6 yearsDestroyJISC guidance
9.8 Administration of employee’s
contractual holiday entitlement
Current year +1 yearDestroyJISC guidance
9.9 Records documenting employee
absence due to sickness: self-certification
forms
Termination of employment +6 yearsDestroyJISC guidance
9.10 Authorisation and administration of
special leave, e.g. compassionate leave,
study leave
Termination of employment +6 yearsDestroyJISC guidance
9.11 Statutory leave entitlement, e.g.
parental leave
Termination of employment +6 yearsDestroyJISC guidance
9.12 Recordings documenting preemployment health screening of an
employee
Termination of employment +6 yearsDestroyJISC guidance
9.13 Records documenting references
provided in confidence in support of the
employee’s application(s) for employment
by another organisation
Termination of employment +6 yearsDestroyJISC guidance
9.14 Employee’s termination of
employment by voluntary resignation,
redundancy, retirement (including on
medical grounds) or dismissal
Termination of employment +6 yearsDestroyJISC guidance
9.15 Senior Executive Personnel RecordsRetain PermanentlyStore electronically and archiveJISC guidance
10.0 HR Strategy, Policies and Procedures:
The activities involved in developing the
University’s strategy, policies and procedures
for the management of its human resources
10.1 People and Culture Strategy and other
HR strategies
Retain permanentlyStore
electronically and
archive
JISC guidance
10.2 HR PoliciesSuperseded +10 yearsDestroyJISC guidance
10.3 HR ProceduresSuperseded +10 yearsDestroyJISC guidance
11.0 Workforce Planning:
The activities involved in identifying the
workforce competencies and numbers
required to implement the institution’s
strategic plan and determining how to meet
these requirements.
11.1 Records documenting the assessment
and analysis of workforce requirements,
and the identification and evaluation of
options for meeting these requirements.
Current year +3 yearsDestroyJISC guidance
11.2 Records documenting departmental
reviews
Current year +20 yearsReviewJISC guidance
11.3 Records documenting management
succession plans
Superseded +5 yearsDestroyJISC guidance
11.4 Records documenting the
development and evaluation of job
specifications
Superseded +5 yearsDestroyJISC guidance
Please note that all records should be stored electronically on a shared drive/SharePoint. Records stored in paper format, where possible, should be scanned and stored electronically.
**At the end of the specified retention period, departments are required to record what has happened to a key document (retained for archival value or destroyed) and when the action happened for auditing
purposes.

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