Wisconsin employees have right to access personnel records

September 2024 employment law letter

Authors:

In Wisconsin, current and former employees—even those who have been fired—have a statutory right to view and copy their personnel records. Below are answers to some common questions regarding what rights a former employee has to their personnel file.

Answers to questions about personnel records

What types of personnel records must be provided? In Wisconsin, every employer must allow former employees to inspect any personnel documents that were used in determining their qualifications for employment, promotion, transfer, additional compensation, termination or other disciplinary action, as well as medical records. Employees may request all or part of their records.

What personnel records are former employees not entitled to receive? You aren’t required to provide for inspection or copy any of the following documents in a personnel file:

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