Leaving
Departure and after
The retention clock starts here, and in most organisations nobody records the date that starts it.
What Changes on the Last Day
Access ends, the basis for most processing narrows, and almost nothing actually happens in the systems.
Retention After Departure
Periods are driven by claim windows and statutory requirements, and are shorter than the indefinite holding most employers actually operate.
References and What You May Say
Giving a reference is processing personal data about somebody who will probably never see it, which is exactly why the constraints exist.
The Former Employee Who Asks
Harder than a current-staff request because the data is scattered across systems nobody maintains for them, and the clock is the same.
Deletion That Actually Happens
The gap between a retention policy and an empty system. Most organisations have the first and not the second, and the reasons are mechanical.
The Claim That Arrives Two Years Later
The scenario that justifies long retention, examined honestly, because it is also the excuse for retaining everything forever.