how long should employment history be kept?

[Mattk]

my son has been underpaid for a job that he no longer has. he has been trying to get his full wages reimbursed but they have told him that they have deleted him from their records. he only worked there for a few weeks but surely they are legally obliged to keep his records for a certain period of time?
to cap it all in order to organise his wages they have made him fill out an application form again complete with references and also asked for health forms to be completed!

[Rosetta]

It sounds like they are being deliberately difficult.
Was he a member of a Trades Union? Is there any chance they could advise.
It might be worth consulting a solicitor with knowledge of employment law
Consult CAB who may be able to sign post your son in the right direction

[TCL-MUMPING]

Employers must keep PAYE records for the current tax year and the three previous tax years

[Mattk]

thanks guys. he was not part of a trade union. the basic intro to any job was not carried out eg emergency procedures, break entitlements etc

it was with a local holiday park that is a member of a national company. i have their human resources contact details and will be sending them a letter which hopefully will drop the local personnel people right in it.

[TCL-MUMPING]

This is the link by the way http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/paye/payroll/day-to-day /records.htm

[Mattk]

thanks again. very interesting link.

[buildersmate]

The only exception that I can think of is if he was being treated as a casual, not on the payroll, hence not having NI/PAYE tax deducted. Even then his wages must appear somewhere as a cost in the books, which have to be kept for a number of years also.
Otherwise they are spinning your son a yarn.