Employee Access to Personnel File Policy

Author: Deborah S. Hildebrand

When to Use

Some state laws require employers to give employees (and sometimes former employees) access to their own personnel files. Some employers may want to give their employees access to their own personnel files even in the absence of such laws, either in the spirit of transparency in the workplace or for ease of administration if operating in multiple jurisdictions with varying rules.

An employer that is required to or desires to provide its employees with access to personnel files should consider implementing this policy to inform employees of the process for requesting access.