HR Record Retention Requirements

Spain

DOCUMENTS

RETENTION PERIOD
(minimum and/or maximum)

BEGINNING OF  RETENTION PERIOD

LEGAL REFERENCE

EMPLOYMENT RECORDS

Contracts (new hire agreements, severance, etc.)

Minimum 1 year

Maximum 4 years

From employee termination

Royal Legislative Decree 5/2000 of 4th August, on labour-related infractions and sanctions;
Royal Legislative Decree 8/2015 of 30th October, of General Social Security Act

Time records (work hours, rest periods, vacation/sick/

holiday, etc.)

Minimum 1 year

Maximum 4 years

From employee termination

Royal Legislative Decree 5/2000 of 4th August, on labour-related infractions and sanctions;
Royal Legislative Decree 8/2015 of 30th October, of General Social Security Act;
Organic Law 7/2012, of 27th December

Performance records (performance reviews, promotions/

demotions, licenses/

certifications, investigations, disciplinary actions, etc.)

Minimum 1 year

Maximum 4 years

From employee termination

Royal Legislative Decree 5/2000 of 4th August, on labour-related infractions and sanctions;
Royal Legislative Decree 8/2015 of 30th October, of General Social Security Act

Data and personnel files

Minimum 4 years

Maximum 10 years

From employee termination

Royal Legislative Decree 5/2000 of 4th August, on labour-related infractions and sanctions;
Royal Legislative Decree 8/2015 of 30th October, of General Social Security Act;
Organic Law 7/2012, of 27th December

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

Minimum 1 year

Maximum 4 years

From employee termination

Royal Legislative Decree 5/2000 of 4th August, on labour-related infractions and sanctions;
Organic Law 7/2012, of 27th December

Collective bargaining/union

Minimum 3 years

Maximum 10 years

From employee termination

Royal Legislative Decree 5/2000 of 4th August, on labour-related infractions and sanctions;
Organic Law 7/2012, of 27th December

Background checks and drug tests

Minimum 4 years

Maximum 10 years

From creation of record

Royal Legislative Decree 5/2000 of 4th August, on labour-related infractions and sanctions;
Royal Legislative Decree 8/2015 of 30th October, of General Social Security Act

Acknowledgements, policy agreements and required notices

Minimum 1 year

Maximum 4 years

From employee termination

Royal Legislative Decree 5/2000 of 4th August, on labour-related infractions and sanctions

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

Applicants who aren't hired: Minimum 3 years

Applicants who are hired: Minimum 4 years

Applicants: From date of rejection of job
applicant or date of termination
of recruitment process

Hired employees: From employee termination date

Royal Legislative Decree 5/2000 of 4th August, on labour-related infractions and sanctions

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

Camera recordings: Maximum 1 month

Biometric recordings (for security purposes): Maximum 1 month

Biometric recordings (for control purposes): Minimum 4 years

Geolocation recordings for proof of execution of a service or for route optimization: Maximum 1 year

Camera and biometric recordings: From date of recording

Geolocation recordings:
From employee termination

Organic Law 3/2018, of 5 December, on Data Protection and Guarantee of Digital Rights;
Art. 20,3 Royal Legislative Decree 2/2015 of 23rd October, on the Workers Statute

Temporary employee records

Minimum 1 year

Maximum 4 years

From employee termination

Royal Legislative Decree 5/2000 of 4th August, on labour-related infractions and sanctions;
Royal Legislative Decree 8/2015 of 30th October, of General Social Security Act

BENEFIT/PENSION/EQUITY RECORDS

Benefits (plan documents, enrollment records)

Minimum 4 years

From employee termination

Royal Legislative Decree 5/2000 of 4th August, on labour-related infractions and sanctions;
Royal Legislative Decree 8/2015 of 30th October, of General Social Security Act

Pension records

Minimum 4 years

From termination of pension plan

Royal Legislative Decree 5/2000 of 4th August, on labour-related infractions and sanctions
Royal Legislative Decree 8/2015 of 30th October, of General Social Security Act

Equity records

Minimum 4 years

Maximum 10 years

From employee termination

Royal Legislative Decree 5/2000 of 4th August, on labour-related infractions and sanctions;
Organic Law 7/2012, of 27th December

Payroll and Social Security contribution documents/records

Minimum 4 years

From employee termination

Royal Legislative Decree 5/2000 of 4th August, on labour-related infractions and sanctions;
Royal Legislative Decree 8/2015 of 30th October, of General Social Security Act

PAYROLL/WAGE/TAX RECORDS

Payroll and wage data (payslips, etc.)

Minimum 4 years

From employee termination

Royal Legislative Decree 5/2000 of 4th August, on labour-related infractions and sanctions;
Royal Legislative Decree 8/2015 of 30th October, of General Social Security Act

Tax records

Minimum 4 years

From employee termination

Royal Legislative Decree 5/2000 of 4th August, on labour-related infractions and sanctions;
Royal Legislative Decree 8/2015 of 30th October, of General Social Security Act

MEDICAL/SAFETY/LEAVE RECORDS

Leave (family, medical, etc.)

Minimum 4 years

From employee termination

Royal Legislative Decree 5/2000 of 4th August, on labour-related infractions and sanctions;
Royal Legislative Decree 8/2015 of 30th October, of General Social Security Act

Injury and illness incident reports

Minimum 4 years

From employee termination

Royal Legislative Decree 5/2000 of 4th August, on labour-related infractions and sanctions;
Royal Legislative Decree 8/2015 of 30th October, of General Social Security Act;
Act 31/1995 of 8th November on Prevention of Occupation Hazards

Medical records

General: Minimum 5 years (including medical exams related to hazardous substances)

Medical records of employees exposed to ionizing radiation: until employee reaches 75 years of age, Minimum 30 years

General: From termination of company's activity

Ionizing radiation: From last date of activities relating to exposure or from employee termination

Royal Legislative Decree 5/2000 of 4th August, on labour-related infractions and sanctions;
Royal Legislative Decree 8/2015 of 30th October, of General Social Security Act
Act 31/1995 of 8th November on Prevention of Occupation Hazards;
Royal Decree 783/2001 of 6th July, on sanitary protection over ionizing radiations

Hazardous material and other exposure records

Register of employees who worked in dangerous conditions or in conditions where health is at risk: Minimum 5 years

Register of employees exposed to 3rd or 4th category biological agents: Minimum 10 years, or 40 years, depending on exposure

Register of employees exposed to asbestos dust: Minimum 40 years

Dangerous conditions: From termination of company's activity

Exposure to biological agents or asbestos: From last date of exposure or from employee termination

Royal Legislative Decree 5/2000 of 4th August, on labour-related infractions and sanctions;
Royal Legislative Decree 8/2015 of 30th October, of General Social Security Act
Act 31/1995 of 8th November on Prevention of Occupation Hazards;
Royal Decree 664/1997 of 12th may, on the protection of workers against risks related to exposure to biologic agents during work;
Royal Decree 665/1997 of 12th may, on the protection of workers against risks related to exposure to carcinogens during work

Floor plans and directions

Minimum 5 years

From end of validity of floor plan

Royal Legislative Decree 5/2000 of 4th August, on labour-related infractions and sanctions;
Royal Legislative Decree 8/2015 of 30th October, of General Social Security Act
Act 31/1995 of 8th November on Prevention of Occupation Hazards

Occupational health obligations

Minimum 10 years

Maximum 40 years

From end of exposure

Act 31/1995 of 8th November on Prevention of Occupation Hazards;
Royal Decree 664/1997 of 12th may, on the protection of workers against risks related to exposure to biologic agents during work