The Documents You Should Save Before Your Last Day at Work

Published March 30, 2026

You know your last day is coming. Maybe you got a formal notice, maybe it’s a mutual agreement, maybe the writing is on the wall. Either way, once you lose access to your work email and company systems, you lose access to everything stored inside them.

Most people walk out with a box of personal items and nothing else. They realize days or weeks later that they needed a pay stub, a benefits summary, or a performance review — and now they can’t get it.

Here’s what to save before you lose access.

Your Pay and Compensation Records

Download or screenshot your most recent pay stubs — at least the last three months. These prove your salary, tax withholdings, and deductions. You may need them for unemployment claims, loan applications, or negotiations with a future employer.

If you have access to a total compensation summary or offer letter, save that too. It documents your base salary, bonus structure, stock grants, and any other compensation you were promised.

Benefits and Insurance Details

Before you log out of your employer’s benefits portal for the last time, save your current health insurance plan details — plan name, group number, member ID, and coverage summary. You’ll need these to compare COBRA costs against marketplace options.

Don’t forget dental, vision, life insurance, and any disability coverage. Note the exact end date of your coverage. Some employers cut benefits on your last day. Others extend through the end of the month.

Retirement Account Information

Pull a current statement from your 401(k) or 403(b) provider. Note the account number, current balance, vesting schedule, and any employer match you’re leaving behind. If you’re not fully vested, know exactly how much you’re walking away from — it may factor into a severance negotiation.

If you have a pension, save any benefit estimate documents. These are harder to reconstruct later.

Performance Reviews and Work Samples

Save copies of your performance reviews, especially the positive ones. They’re useful for reference letters, LinkedIn endorsements, and interview preparation. Your employer is not required to share these after you leave.

If your work is shareable — presentations, reports, project summaries — save examples to your personal drive. Anything with proprietary or confidential information should stay on company systems, but your own work product may be worth preserving for your portfolio.

Contact Information

Export the contact details of colleagues, clients, mentors, and anyone you want to stay in touch with. Once your work email is deactivated, your address book goes with it. Move key contacts to your personal phone or email now.

Company Policies That Affect You

Check your employee handbook or HR portal for the non-compete clause, non-solicitation agreement, and severance policy. Screenshot these if you can. Knowing what you signed — and what your employer’s standard severance terms look like — puts you in a stronger position.

If you’re trying to keep track of everything happening at once after a layoff, the Job Loss & Income Crisis Bundle includes 14 worksheets — from severance response to COBRA election to job search tracking. It’s a set of organizational tools designed to help you stay on top of deadlines and paperwork during a chaotic time.

The Bottom Line

Your employer’s systems belong to your employer. Your records belong to you — but only if you save them first. Spend 30 minutes before your last day pulling everything into a personal folder. It’s one of the easiest things you can do to make the next chapter less stressful.

This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice. Every employment situation is different. Consult a licensed professional for guidance specific to your circumstances.