Before leaving Nordstrom—or when returning to resolve an old mynordstrom question—build a folder around the records you may need to use. The goal is to preserve relevant personal information with its dates and context, rather than to save every screen you can open.
Only retain records you are authorized to keep. Customer information, coworker records, internal business files, and other employer-confidential material do not belong in a personal exit folder.
Organize by the future question
A practical folder structure follows the requests you may later make:
| Folder | Examples to retain or request |
|---|---|
| Employment | Personal offer or employment documents, recorded departure date, separation correspondence |
| Pay and tax | Relevant pay statements, annual wage forms, correction correspondence |
| Health coverage | Individual enrollment confirmations, coverage dates, continuation notices |
| Spending accounts | Account type, statements, claim instructions, applicable deadlines |
| Retirement | Statements, plan information, distribution notices, transaction confirmations |
| Open matters | Claim decisions, submitted requests, case references, responses |
This is a collection aid, not a statement that every listed document exists for every employee.
Keep the source and date with each document. A file named “benefits.pdf” provides little context later. A descriptive name containing the plan, period, and document type makes it easier to locate the evidence behind a question.
Keep terms and personal confirmations together
A plan summary explains rules. An individual confirmation records an election or decision. Preserve both when they apply to the same issue.
For example, a general coverage description may explain an option without proving that you selected it. Conversely, an election confirmation may identify your choice without explaining the exclusions or claim procedure.
For the practical consequences after departure, see the health coverage guide.
Check delivery details through the actual process
Ask how to keep your personal mailing address and other permitted contact information current after leaving. Identify which records or services the update covers.
Do not assume that changing one address updates every separate administrator. Ask whether another organization needs its own update and obtain its instructions through a verified source.
If you are already unable to access employee resources, make a document-specific request. Explain your former employee status and the period involved. An employer can tell you which verification and delivery process applies without you guessing a replacement portal address.
Track missing tax documents by year
List missing tax forms using the year of wages or distributions, not just the year you expected to receive mail.
The IRS directs people with missing or incorrect W‑2 or 1099‑R forms to contact the employer or payer. Its guidance also explains the next steps when the problem remains unresolved, including the circumstances for using a substitute form. Follow that process instead of treating an old pay statement as an interchangeable tax document. IRS Topic 154
This folder does not need to duplicate a full W‑2 retrieval guide. Its purpose is to make the document, year, request date, and response easy to identify.
Preserve completed actions as well as requests
A submitted form records what you asked for. The response or confirmation records what happened.
For a retirement transfer, retain the sending and receiving confirmations. For a claim, keep the decision and any appeal response. For a coverage election, keep the confirmation and effective date.
If a task remains open, add a brief note with the next action and deadline. That is more useful than a collection of screenshots with no explanation of their sequence.
Store personal records carefully
Use storage you control, protect access, and avoid leaving sensitive files on shared devices. When requesting help, share only the relevant material through the designated channel.
An editorial website does not need your account statement to explain a general rule. Use the after-leaving guide to organize the question, then provide private evidence only to the organization authorized to act on it.