Bureaucracy in the HR department can be a real pain - retention periods, documentation requirements and all the paperwork. Many HR teams spend a lot of time managing documents and fulfilling bureaucratic requirements. But don’t worry, since 2025 the Bureaucracy Relief Act (BEG IV) has made things a lot easier! For HR teams in particular, this will make their work much easier.
The most important changes for HR departments:
Text form instead of written form
A real game changer! Instead of having to provide many documents with a handwritten signature, a digital signature or even an email is now often enough. This makes the entire process much faster and less complicated. Employment contracts, notices of termination and change agreements can now be created and sent in digital form - a huge time saver! And that's not all: the digital signature eliminates the need for tedious printing, signing and scanning. Less paper and less effort - this not only saves time, but also resources!
Shorter retention periods
Instead of ten years, many personnel documents now only have to be kept for eight years. This is a welcome relief, especially for larger companies with many personnel files. It also makes digital archiving much easier, as less space is required. And best of all, you can destroy older documents earlier, saving storage space and costs!
Electronic employment contracts and references
You can now create and send employment contracts and certificates digitally - with an electronic signature, of course. No more mountains of paper, everything runs quickly and easily online. This new feature means less paperwork and the documents reach the recipient faster. In addition, everything remains legally compliant. Of course, employees are still free to request the certificate in paper form if they wish. But the digital way is definitely faster and more environmentally friendly.
Less bureaucracy when communicating with authorities
Another plus point of BEG IV is the simplification of communication with authorities. Many applications and notifications can now be submitted electronically. This not only reduces the time and effort involved in sending paperwork, but also speeds up processing. This means less waiting time and less paper chaos for HR departments.
What does this mean for your company?
The Bureaucracy Reduction Act definitely makes life easier in the HR department. Less paper, shorter processes and the option of digital administration - this not only saves time, but also creates more space for the really important tasks!
Especially for companies that already work a lot with digital tools, BEG IV brings even better integration of digital working methods. This allows HR teams to work more efficiently and focus on strategic tasks instead of being occupied with administrative processes. In addition, compliance with legal requirements can be tracked and monitored much better thanks to digital document management.
Another advantage: the law promotes digitalization and ensures that companies remain fit for the future. Especially in times of remote working and working from home, digital document management is not only an advantage, but almost a necessity. More flexibility for HR departments and employees means a better work-life balance and greater satisfaction overall.
Conclusion
The Bureaucracy Reduction Act IV is a significant step towards simpler, digital and more efficient bureaucracy. HR departments can look forward to more flexible and faster work - without having to constantly battle through piles of paper and deadlines. The path to a paperless and digital future is paved, and that makes everyday working life much more pleasant!
And who knows, perhaps the next Bureaucracy Relief Act (BEG V) will bring even more benefits. Digitalization is definitely making great leaps forward, and HR departments will certainly continue to benefit from this!
