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HR Record Retention Requirements

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Greece

Document

Retention Period

Beginning of Retention Period

Legal Reference

EMPLOYMENT RECORDS

Contracts (new hire agreements, severance, etc.)

Minimum 5 years (by statute, minimum 2 years from expiration of contract)

From termination

Law 3762/2009, Art. 7, Civil Code, Art. 250 (claims limit)

Time records (work hours, rest periods, vacation/sick/holiday, etc.)

Minimum 5 years (period does not apply to employer leave book)

From end of year establishing the relevant claim

Civil Code, Art. 250 (claims limit), Legislative Decree 515/1970; Law 4254/2014, Para. IA5

Performance records (performance reviews, promotions/demotions, licenses/certifications, investigations, disciplinary actions, etc.)

Minimum 5 years

From termination

Civil Code, Art. 250 (claims limit)

Data and personnel files

Minimum 5 years

From termination

Civil Code, Art. 250 (claims limit)

Government verification records (work papers, immigration, eligibility to work, etc.)

Minimum 5 years

From termination

Civil Code, Art. 250 (claims limit)

Collective bargaining/union

Minimum 5 years

From termination

Civil Code, Art. 250 (claims limit)

Background checks and drug tests

Minimum 5 years

From termination

Civil Code, Art. 250 (claims limit)

Acknowledgements, policy agreements and required notices

Minimum 5 years

From termination

Civil Code, Art. 250 (claims limit)

Recruitment (interview notes, resumes/CVs, reference checks, etc.)

Minimum 5 years

From termination

N/A, Best practice

Tracking/recordings (biometric, geo-location, online tracking, camera recordings, etc.)

Varies, generally 15 days, 30 days in case of incident, other periods may apply dependent on legal basis

From recording

Depends on legal basis; Directive 1/2011, Art. 8; Law 4624/2019

Miscellaneous 1

Special overtime records: Minimum 5 years

From the end of year establishing the relevant claim

Presidential Decree 515/1970

Miscellaneous 2

Records related to illegal work during week leave (Sunday): Minimum 20 years

From the end of year establishing the relevant claim

Civil Code, Art. 904

BENEFIT/PENSION/EQUITY RECORDS

Benefits (plan documents, enrollment records)

General: Minimum 5 years; Salary records related to non-payment of Social Security contributions: Minimum 20 years

From termination

Civil Code, Art. 250 (claims limit); Law 4387/2016, Art. 95 (claims limit on social security contributions)

Pension and retirement records

Minimum 20 years

From termination

Law 4387/2016, Art. 95 (claims limit on social security contributions)

Equity records

Minimum 5 years

From termination

Civil Code, Art. 250 (claims limit)

PAYROLL/WAGE/TAX RECORDS

Payroll and wage data (payslips, etc.)

General: Minimum 5 years; Salary records related to non-payment of Social Security contributions: Minimum 20 years

From end of year to which record relate

Civil Code, Art. 250 (claims limit), Law 4387/2016, Art. 95 (claims limit on social security contributions)

Tax records

Minimum: 5 years; Maximum (in cases of tax avoidance): 20 years

From end of year to which record relate

Greek Accounting Standards (Law 4308/2014)

MEDICAL/SAFETY/LEAVE RECORDS

Leave (family, medical, etc.)

Minimum 5 years

From the end of year to which record relate

Annual leave subject to the provision of Civil Code, Art. 250 (claims limit)

Injury and illness incident reports

Minimum 5 years

From the end of year to which record relate

Law 551/1915 as amended an in force

Medical records

Minimum 5 - 20 years

From the end of year to which record relate

Depends on legal basis, e.g. medical insurance plan

Hazardous material and other exposure records

Minimum 20 years (e.g. optical radiation exposure records)

From last date of exposure

Health and Safety Code, Presidential Decree No. 82, Minimum health and safety requirements concerning workers' exposure to risks derived from natural agents (technical optical exposure). (Section III, Art. 8)

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