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Q: Could you please clarify how long a small business should keep staff training records?

Aug 06 2008

Answered by: Peter Done Ask a question

The retention of records is a complex area with different rules applying to different types of records. There are clear legal and business reasons for keeping data on your workers. There is no definitive retention period for which you need to keep training records; it is up to you, the employer.

It is a good idea to keep training records for the duration of employment and for six years thereafter, should any legal action be taken against you in this period of time. However, bear in mind, the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998. Do not keep records any longer than necessary. In general remember inadequate records can lead to problems when dealing with absence levels, labour turnover, sickness, lateness and discipline.

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