When you review an employee’s performance, make a compensation decision, discipline an employee, investigate an employee complaint or have a workplace safety issue, you will need to document your actions.

• Documenting performance reviews and compensation decisions. You should document your employees’ performance and salary reviews and make them part of their personnel files. Performance and compensation reviews are directly linked to different types of employment actions you may have to take.
• Documenting employee discipline. You should document the entire disciplinary process starting with the complaint or incident and ending with the final resolution or action taken. Document your reasons for taking any employment action, the fact-finding you did, and the actions that you took.
• Investigating and documenting employee complaints. Once you become aware of a problem with an employee or receive a complaint, you need to investigate the situation before you take any action.
• Documenting workplace safety compliance. OSHA requires every employer, unless exempt, to comply with certain recordkeeping requirements.

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