{"id":4788,"date":"2016-04-04T10:47:45","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:47:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/smallbusiness\/employment-law-and-human-resources\/who-can-look-at-employee-personnel-files.html"},"modified":"2023-09-01T10:05:00","modified_gmt":"2023-09-01T15:05:00","slug":"who-can-look-at-employee-personnel-files","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/employment-law-and-human-resources\/who-can-look-at-employee-personnel-files.html","title":{"rendered":"Who Can Look at Employee Personnel Files?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Who Can Look at Employee Personnel Files?<\/h1>\n
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\n By Susan Buckner, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Aviana Cooper, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
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Editorial Note: We earn a commission from affiliate partner links on FindLaw. Commissions do not affect the editorial integrity of our legal content.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n \n

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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

In today’s online world, an employee’s right to privacy<\/a> often conflicts with an employer’s need to maintain personnel files. Who has the right to access employee documents? To whom does employee information belong?<\/p>\r\n

Employers and employees have the right to view employee personnel files<\/a>. Employers may restrict employee access to certain parts of the files. They may ask that a manager be present when the employee looks at some documents. This article reviews some of the documents included in an employee file and who may view them.<\/p>\r\n

What Is a Personnel File?<\/h2>\r\n

An employee personnel file collects documents business owners assemble on each employee. Even small businesses have lengthy files containing sensitive information about their workers. Some of these documents may include:<\/p>\r\n