No federal law gives an employee the right to access and inspect their personnel file maintained by their employer—but some state laws do. Many states require public employers to allow employees to access and inspect their personnel files—and some states require private employers to do so as well.

Some states limit an employee’s right to access and inspect their personnel file to certain documents—and some states require an employer to provide employees with certain documents (such as a disciplinary document) within a certain number of days after it is placed in the employee’s personnel file (known as an adverse-action notice).

Laws regarding whether employees have the right to access and inspect their personnel file—and if so, the circumstances under which they may do so—are generally located in a state’s statutes.

In Kentucky, employees do not have a statutory right to access or inspect their personnel files. Unlike some other states, Kentucky does not have a specific law that requires private employers to grant employees the right to view or copy their personnel records. However, public employees in Kentucky may have the right to access their personnel files under the Kentucky Open Records Act, which applies to public agencies. This means that while employees of private companies in Kentucky generally cannot demand to see their personnel files, those who work for the state or local government may request access to their records through the Open Records Act procedures. It is important for employees to understand that these rights can vary depending on whether they are employed by a private company or a public entity, and they may wish to consult with an attorney for guidance specific to their situation.