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 Tennessee, there is no state statute that grants all employees the right to access and inspect their personnel files. However, certain public-sector employees may have this right under specific provisions applicable to public employment. For private-sector employees, the right to review personnel files is generally at the discretion of the employer, unless there is an employment contract or union agreement that provides for such access. Tennessee does not have a broad law that requires private employers to allow employees to access and inspect their personnel files, nor does it have a law that mandates employers to provide employees with certain documents, such as disciplinary documents, within a specific timeframe after placement in the personnel file. Employees seeking to understand their rights regarding personnel files should consult with an attorney to determine if any specific circumstances or laws apply to their situation.