What must you provide to an employee upon request regarding personnel records?

• A. Copies of items that the employee has signed relating to obtaining or holding of employment
• B. All payroll records
• C. All medical records
• D. Only performance reviews

Answer: (A)

Under California law, employees have the right to inspect their personnel records and to receive copies of items in those records that relate to their employment. The key requirement is that you provide copies of documents in the personnel file that concern the employee’s job, including items the employee signed as part of obtaining or holding the position. This ensures the employee can verify what the employer has on file about their employment history.

Note that this right isn’t a blanket disclosure of every record the employer keeps. Payroll records and medical files are not the focus of this specific personnel-record access obligation, and access is not limited only to performance reviews. The emphasis is on providing copies of items the employee signed or otherwise related to their employment.