Employment Rights Act 1996: Primary legislation governing employment documentation, reference provisions, notice periods and termination procedures in England and Wales. Key sections relate to employment records and documentation requirements.

Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR: Legislation controlling how personal information can be used, stored and shared in employment documentation. Includes requirements for handling personal data and individual rights to access employment records.

Equality Act 2010: Legal framework ensuring non-discrimination in employment practices, including documentation. Must be considered to ensure the relieving letter process is fair and non-discriminatory.

Employment Relations Act 1999: Legislation governing employment relationships, including rights and obligations during employment termination and documentation processes.

Common Law Principles: Established legal principles including duty of care, reasonable notice requirements, and contractual obligations that affect employment documentation.

ACAS Guidelines: Best practice guidelines for employment documentation and reference provision in the UK, though not strictly legislation, these are widely recognized standards.