No federal law grants employees the right to inspect their personnel files. However, each state has its own laws regarding an employee’s ability to access personnel files; only the states listed below guarantee employees a right to access their own personnel files. Employers may also have their own policies governing employee access to personnel files. Typically, employees can at least view their personnel files and take notes of the documents contained in the file.

Listed below are the state laws regarding access to personnel files and what the employer is obligated to provide employees who request access.

Alaska
California
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Illinois
Iowa
Louisiana
Maine
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Nevada
New Hampshire
North Carolina
Ohio
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Washington
Wisconsin

Alaska

In the state of Alaska, all employees are permitted to inspect and duplicate employee personnel documents maintained by their employer. Employees and former employees are allowed to view and copy personnel files and employees may view records during regular business hours under reasonable rules. If the employer requests, then the employee pays for copies of the records. See the law for more information.

California

In the state of California, every current employee, or his or her representative has the right to inspect and receive a copy of their personnel records, maintained by their employer. Once requested in writing by the employee, or an agent of the employee, the employer has up to 30 days to produce the documents unless a later date is agreed upon by the requesting party. All employers are subject to the state personnel file law. Employees have the right to inspect their files at reasonable intervals and check any personnel records relating to performance or to a grievance proceeding. Employees may view records during break or non-work hours. If the records are kept off site or the employer does not make them available at the workplace, the employee must be allowed to view them at the storage location without loss of pay. Employees have the right to copy any documents that employees have signed.The employer can require the employee to pay a reasonable copying cost. See the California website for more information.

Connecticut

Employees have the right to inspect files within seven days after making a request, but not more than twice a year. A former employee has the right to inspect personnel files within 10 business days after making a request. A written request to check files is required. Employers must keep files of former employees for at least one year after termination. Employees may view records during regular business hours in a location at or near the worksite. Employers may require that files be viewed in the presence of employer’s designated official. Employers must provide copies within a reasonable time after receiving an employee’s written request. The request must identify the materials that the employee wants to copy. Employer may charge a fee that is based on the cost of supplying documents. Employees are entitled to a copy of any disciplinary action against the employee within 1 business day after it is imposed. If an employee disagrees with the information in the files, and cannot reach an agreement with employers to remove or correct it, the employee may submit an explanatory written statement. The rebuttal must be maintained as part of the file. See the law for more information.

Delaware

In the state of Delaware, all employers are subject to the state personnel file law. Employees that are current, laid off, with reemployment rights, or on leave of absence may inspect personnel records. An employee’s agent is not entitled to have access to records, unless there is reasonable cause. Employer may limit access to once a year. A written request is only required at employer’s discretion. Records may be viewed during employer’s regular business hours. Employer may require that employees view files on their own time and may also require that files be viewed on the premises and in the presence of a designated official. Employers are not required to allow employees to copy records, however, employees may take notes. If employees disagree with information in the file, and cannot reach an agreement with the employer to remove or correct it, the employee may submit an explanatory written statement. The rebuttal must be maintained as part of the file. See the law for more information.

Florida

Public employees have the right to access their personnel files and request copies of their contents under the Florida Public Records Act, also known as the “Sunshine” law. If a supervisor or department refuses to allow access, the employee can take legal action. 

Private employees do not have an automatic right to access their personnel files, but there are some exceptions: 

• • Union employees: A union contract may grant union employees the right to access their personnel files. 
  • Employer policy: The employer may have a policy that allows employees to access their files.

Illinois

In the state of Illinois, employers with 5 or more employees are subject to the state personnel file law. Current employees, or former employees terminated within the past year, are permitted to inspect records twice a year at reasonable intervals, unless a collective bargaining agreement provides otherwise. An employee involved in a current grievance may designate a representative of the union or collective bargaining unit, or other agent, to inspect personnel records that may be relevant to resolving the grievance. An employer must make records available within 7 business days after the employee makes the request. Employers may require the request of certain personnel files be in writing. Records may be viewed during normal business hours at or near worksite or, at employer’s discretion, during nonworking hours at a different location if more convenient for the employee. After reviewing recrods, employee may get a copy and the employer may charge only for the actual cost of duplication. If employee disagrees with any information on the personnel file and cannot reach an agreement with employer to remove or correct it, employee may submit an explanatory statement. The rebuttal must remain in file with no additional comment by employer. Employers may however, withhold medical records, letters of reference, test documents, staff planning materials, information about a person other than the employee, records subject to a court proceeding, or any records alleging criminal activity. See the Illinois website for more information.

Iowa

In the state of Iowa, all employers with salaried employees or commissioned salespeople are subject to the state personnel file law. Employees may have access to personnel files at a time agreed upon between employers and employees. An employer’s representative may be present. Employers may charge a copying fee for each page that is relevant to a commercial copying service fee. See the law for more information.

Louisiana

In Louisiana, an employee does not have the right to view his or personnel file unless an employee handbook specifically grants that right.  Many other states have laws allowing employees to review their personnel files, although these laws are often subject to limitations. 

Maine

In the state of Maine, all employers are subject to the state personnel file law. Employees can access records ten days within submitting a request. These include employees, former employees or authorized representatives, who all can view and copy personnel files. The request must be in writing. Employees may view records during normal business hours at the location where the files are kept, unless the employer, at its own discretion, arranges a time and place more convenient for the employee. If files are in electronic or any other non-print format, the employer must provide equipment for viewing and copying. Employees are entitled to one free copy of files during each calendar year, including any materials added to the file during that year. Employee must pay for any additional copies. See the law for more information.

Massachusetts

In the state of Massachusetts, employees have the right to review their personnel files within five business days of submitting a request.  Employees may view their records at the workplace during normal business hours and they must be given a copy of their records within five business days of submitting a written request. The request must be in writing. Employer must notify an employee within 10 days of placing in the employee’s personnel record any information to the extent that the information is, has been, or may be used, to negatively affect the employee’s qualification for employment, promotion, transfer, additional compensation, or the possibility that the employee will be subject to disciplinary action. If an employee disagrees with information in the file, and cannot reach an agreement with the employer to remove or correct it, the employee may submit an explanatory written statement. Rebuttals become part of the file. See the law for more information.

Michigan

In the state of Michigan, employers with four or more employees are subject to the state personnel file law. Current or former employees are entitled to review personnel records at reasonable intervals, generally not more than twice a year, unless a collective bargaining agreement provides otherwise. Employees must describe the record(s) they request to review in writing. They may view these records during normal office hours either at or reasonably near the worksite. If these hours would require employees to take time off of work, the employer must provide another reasonable time for review. Employees can copy files and employers may charge only actual cost of duplication. If the employee is unable to view files at the worksite, the employer, upon receipt of a written request, must mail a copy to the employee. If an employee disagrees with information in the file, and cannot reach an agreement with the employer to remove or correct it, the employee may submit an explanatory written statement explaining his or her position. See the law for more information.

Minnesota

Nevada

In the state of Nevada, all employers are subject to the state personnel file law. Any employee who has worked at least 60 days and a former employee, within 60 days of termination, must be given a reasonable opportunity to inspect personnel records. Employees may view records during employer’s normal business hours. Employers may charge only actual cost of providing access and copies. Employees may submit a reasonable written explanation in direct response to any entry in personnel record. These statements must be of reasonable length and employer may specify the format. Employers must also maintain the statement in personnel records. See the law for more information.

New Hampshire

In the state of New Hampshire, all employers are subject to the state personnel file law. Employers must provide employees a reasonable opportunity to inspect personnel records and may charge a fee reasonably related to cost of supplying copies. If an employee disagrees with information in the file, and cannot reach an agreement with the employer to remove or correct it, the employee may submit an explanatory written statement along with supporting evidence. These statements must be maintained as part of personnel file. See the law for more information.

North Carolina

Oregon

In the state of Oregon, all employers are subject to the state personnel file law. Within 45 days after receipt of a request, employers must provide employees with a reasonable opportunity to inspect personnel records used to determine qualifications for employment, promotion, or additional compensation, termination, or other disciplinary action. Employee may view records at worksite or place of work assignment. Employers must keep records for 60 days after termination of employee. Employees may review records at the workplace or places of work assignment. Employers must provide employees, within 45 days after receipt of request, a certified copy of requested record to current employees. Former employees, if request is made within 60 days of termination, can have certified copies of requested records.

If an employee makes a request 60 days after termination, employers should provide a certified copy of requested records, if employer has the records at the time of request. The employer may charge the amount reasonably calculated to recover actual cost of providing copy.

See the Oregon website for more information.

Pennsylvania

In the state of Pennsylvania, all employers are subject to the state personnel file law. The employer must allow the employee to inspect personnel records at reasonable times. Unless there is reasonable cause, employers may limit the review to once a year by the employee and once a year by employee’s agent.

A written request is required at the employer’s discretion and the records may be viewed during regular business hours at the office where the records are kept. Employee may view records during regular business hours at the office where records are maintained, when there is enough time for employee to complete the review.

Employers may require that employees view records on their own time and may also require that inspection take place on the premises and in the presence of employer’s designated official. Employers are not obligated to permit copying; the employee may take notes, however. The Bureau of Labor Standards may allow employees to place a counter statement into the file, after a petition hearing.

See the law for more information.

Rhode Island

In the state of Rhode Island, all employers are subject to the state personnel file law. Employees need to give employers a seven-day advance notice to access records, excluding weekends and holidays. Employers may limit access to no more than three times a year. Employees can view the records at any reasonable time, other than employee’s work hours. This inspection should take place in the presence of the employer or the employer’s representative. The employee may not make copies or remove any files from place of inspection and the employer may charge a fee reasonably related to supplying copies.

See the law for more information.

South Carolina

Employees in South Carolina have a right to inspect their personnel files. The law applies to all employers in South Carolina and employers who are doing business in the state. 

The request must be made during normal business hours of the organization or entity and must be complied with by the organization or entity within seventy-two hours after receipt of the request.

The employer shall provide the person his file in its entirety with no information removed, edited, expunged, or otherwise altered.

The employer may charge the employee  making the request an amount not to exceed ten dollars to defray the cost of granting access to the personnel file or making copies.

See the law for more information.

Washington

In the state of Washington, all employers are subject to the state personnel file law. Employees may have access to personnel files at least once within a reasonable time after making a request. Employees may also petition annually that the employer review all of the information in the employee’s personnel file and remove any irrelevant or incorrect information.

If there is any irrelevant or incorrect information in the file, employer must remove it. If employee does not agree with employer’s review, employee may have a statement of rebuttal or correction placed in file. Former employee has right of rebuttal for two years after termination.

See the Washington website for more information.

Wisconsin

In the state of Wisconsin, all employers who maintain personnel records are subject to the state personnel file law. Employees or former employees must have the opportunity to review personnel files within seven business days of submitting a request. Access will be permitted twice per calendar year, unless a collective bargaining agreement provides otherwise. Employee involved in a current grievance may designate a representative of the union or collective bargaining unit, or other agent, to inspect records that may be relevant to resolving the grievance.

The employer has discretion to require a written request. Current employees may view the records during normal office hours, either at the worksite or reasonably near the worksite. An employee’s right of inspection includes the right to make or receive copies. If the employer provides copies, they may charge only actual cost of reproduction.

In the event that the employee disagrees with information in the file, and cannot reach an agreement with the employer to remove or correct it, the employee may submit an explanatory written statement. Employer must attach the statement to the disputed portion of the personnel record.

See the Wisconsin website for more information.