Records Management For Dummies

Chapter 3

Scheduling

In This Chapter

Examining scheduling options

Researching retention periods

Obtaining retention period approvals

Creating the retention schedule document

Implementing the retention schedule

Maintaining the schedule

A retention schedule is a document that provides an organization with direction on how long to keep their records and information, but you need to keep in mind that having a retention schedule is more than just knowing when it’s okay to get rid of something. An organization that implements a well-designed and researched retention schedule can also benefit from better compliance to regulations, use of office space and computer storage, response to legal and audit matters, and record and information life cycle management.

Traditionally, retention schedules have focused on official company records. However, due to the corporate explosion of information, ...