If you’ve received a DSAR and need to export everything related to a specific employee, here’s how to gather all relevant data from Bob.
There isn’t a single “export everything” button in Bob. Employee data lives across different product areas and features, so you’ll need to export data in batches (per report, module, or feature) and then combine the files externally.
The good news: most data in Bob is displayed in a grid format and usually includes a Download, Export, or Print option - so you can extract what you need directly from that page.
Below is the recommended order to make sure you don’t miss anything.
1. Start with Employee Profile and Core Data
This will cover most of the employee’s structured data.
Option A: Export from the Directory:
- Go to People > Directory
- Filter for the specific employee (active or terminated)
- Use the column picker to add all relevant fields
- Click Download and export to CSV or XLSX
This captures the employee’s current profile data.
You can learn more here:
Option B: Use Analytics Reports (Recommended for DSARs)
Reports allow you to extract structured and historical data more comprehensively.
- Go to Analytics > Reports
- Click + Add report
From here, you can:
- Create a General report from scratch to include all relevant employee fields
- Use table-specific templates to export data from tables
- Use history or change-tracking templates to capture historical changes and audit-related data
- Filter the report by the specific employee
- Export to CSV or XLSX
Important: Many features have dedicated report templates. Some data (especially table data or feature-specific data) may not appear in a General report created from scratch, so it’s best to use the matching template when available.
Helpful articles:
2. Export Historical and Audit Data
If the DSAR requires a record of changes (e.g., salary updates, lifecycle changes, field edits):
In Analytics > Reports, look for:
- History reports
- Change-tracking templates
- Employee Data Audit template (if relevant)
- Filter by employee and relevant date range
- Export the results
This is especially important for GDPR-related requests where change history may be required.
3. Download Employee Documents
To retrieve documents stored on the employee profile:
- Go to People > Directory
- Open the employee’s profile
- Use Manage Docs (or the bulk download option) to download all associated documents
If relevant, you can also download:
- Company documents from Docs > Company docs
Helpful article:
Download list of documents of an employee
4. Export Time Off Data
Time off data can usually be exported via:
- Analytics > Reports
- Use the relevant Time off report template
- Filter by employee
- Export to CSV or XLSX
5. Export Talent Data (Performance, Goals, 1:1s, Surveys)
Some Talent data must be exported directly from within the feature.
Performance reviews
- Go to Talent > Performance
- Select Manage all cycles
- Open each relevant cycle
- Use Actions > Download cycle report
Goals and lifecycle feedback
- Use report templates in Analytics > Reports (if available)
1:1s
- Check for a matching report template in Analytics > Reports
- Filter by employee and export
Surveys
- Go to Talent > Surveys
- Open the relevant survey
- Use the Export results option
Note: These exports are usually cycle- or survey-based, so you may need to repeat this per cycle.
6. Other Features and Grid-Based Data
Most other modules in Bob display data in a grid (table) format. In many cases, you can:
- Filter by the specific employee
- Use the Download, Export, or Print option on that page
If you don’t see the data in a General report, check whether the feature has a dedicated report template or built-in export option.
What About UK Payroll?
UK Payroll has its own export options for payroll-specific data. However, payroll exports do not include all Bob data (such as Talent, documents, or profile history). For a full DSAR, you’ll still need to combine payroll exports with the steps above.
Final Notes
- There is no one-click DSAR export in Bob.
- You’ll need to run multiple exports across reports and features.
- Combine all exported files externally (for example, in a secure folder) before sharing with the requester.