Employee demands copy of personal file
March22Collector
45 Posts
We have an employee who was recently disciplined. He is currently on suspension and has called me demanding a copy of everything in his personal file. He also wants a copy of our policies. I've denied his request for a copy of our policies, but I'm not sure if we are required by law to give him copies of the items in his personal file. We are from Indiana, and the info I have is from 1998 which states there are no state or federal laws requiring such. Can you please give me some advice here? Am I required by law to give him copies of his personal file items? Thanks!
Comments
Again, check your state laws in regards to personnel files. Also, it never hurts to run these things by a labor law attorney.
Regarding policies, the other responses have assumed that you have an employee handbook and that you have given it out to everyone. Not all companies do this. Some have just a management handbook that is given out to the supervisors, managers and directors. Either way, everyone wants to know what the boundaries are (whether they are a line employee or part of management). If you do not have any type of formal handbook, I would suggest that you start working on one with your corporate attorney. Please just be aware of the fact that you will have to live by what you put in the handbook.
>employee handbook and that you have given it out to everyone. Not all
>companies do this.
No, we don't have a handbook that we give to our employees. We do, however, review all policies with our new hires and then they sign a form that they have been given the information. I think I'll ask the employee which forms he would like to have copied. Regardless, I think I'll just give him a copy of his disciplinary paperwork as he signed it when we disciplined him...Thanks.
Margaret Morford
theHRedge
615-371-8200
[email]mmorford@mleesmith.com[/email]
[url]http://www.thehredge.net[/url]
If you don't give it to the employee, he is going to think that something is up, probably sue or make a claim though an agency, and end up getting it later anyway.
Also, it seems a bit unfair that an employee cannot have a copy of the company policy that governs his employement. If he is being disciplined for violating a company rule or there is a progressive discipline policy, I would atleast give him copies of the policies that apply.
If your documentation is in order, there is no downside to giving him the information.
Good Luck.