Access Information Your Employer Holds About You

Author: Matthew Strawbridge

Companies like information. Knowledge, they say, is power. So a business with a large pool of facts at its disposal must surely be a powerful one! This logic has some merit when applied to the business’s market, its competitors and its own products. However, when it comes to living people, there are laws governing how facts about them can be collected, stored and processed. This article looks at how you can defend your privacy by accessing the details held about you at work.

What Information Does Your Employer Hold?

There are three possible sources for the data your employer holds about you: yourself, your job and external sources.

The first of these is yourself. Any data that you have been asked to supply will be held in your file. If there is anything that you do not wish to be recorded, or consider to be unnecessary, you should consider withholding it.

The second data source is your job. In the course of your career, various facts relating to you will emerge. You will have appraisals. You may have extended periods of sick leave. You may be promoted, moved between departments, demoted, fired, rehired or disciplined. All these things are likely to flow into your personnel file, which will keep expanding until you leave the company to get another job or you retire.

Finally, facts about you may come from external sources. If your referees were contacted as part of the hiring process, any written references they supplied about you may have been kept. If colleagues or customers have made official complaints about you, these could also be on file.

The good news is that you don’t have to guess what data is held about you: under the Data Protection Act, you have the right to find out exactly what details your employer holds about you.

Workplace Privacy Checker

Describe what your employer is monitoring or asking for and find out whether it is lawful under UK privacy and data protection law.

Try our Workplace Privacy Checker free, here on this site →

Accessing Your Details

The simplest way to get access to your records is to ask for them. If you have a personnel manager in your organisation then they are probably the right person to contact in the first instance. If you don’t know who to contact, ask your line manager to find out for you.

If the human resources department in your company does not receive many requests from employees for their records then they may try to dissuade you from accessing them or say they cannot provide them. Don’t let this put you off. There is no grey area here – you have a legal right to access your information, regardless of how difficult it may be for a disorganised business to pull your records together for you. All they can do is charge a minimal fee for access; they cannot deny it to you.

Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.

Changing Your Data

Having accessed your data, you also have the right to correct it if it is inaccurate. Your employer must act on these changes, amending its files so that they are correct. You may also have the right to ask for data about you to be deleted if you have reason to believe that it is not being used for the purpose for which it was originally collected, or if the business does not require this personal information in order to maintain its relationship with you.

Don’t be afraid to ask to see your employee records and other data held about you at work. After all, it is your data, and you have the legal right to see and correct it. If more workers did this regularly, privacy in the workplace would be less of a concern.

EU General Data Protection Regulation

The EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) superseded the UK Data Protection Act 1998 on May 25, 2018. The new policy expands the rights of individuals to control how their personal data is collected and processed. It places a range of new obligations on organisations to be more accountable for data protection.

Organisations are obliged to have technical and procedural measures in place to safeguard the personal information they hold. You can contact the ICO if you think you have cause to complain .

The Next Step

Now that you have read through the advice above, you might want to put it into practice. Our Workplace Privacy Checker lets you describe what your employer is monitoring or asking for and find out whether it is lawful under UK privacy and data protection law. Try it now →

76 questions

Ask Employee Privacy Rights a Question

EmployeePrivacyRights Editor 18/05/2026 at 9:17 am

@Bluegrey19 You don't have an automatic right to remove your file and store it yourself, as the records belong to your employer and they're the data controller under UK GDPR. That said, they do have a legal duty to keep personal data secure, so an unlocked cabinet accessible to all staff is a fair concern to raise. Put your worries in writing to HR or the incoming manager and ask them to lock the cabinet with restricted key access. You can also submit a SAR to see exactly what's held about you.

Bluegrey19 05/01/2024 at 7:19 pm

Hi I’m looking for some advice. Our practice manager is going on maternity leave soon. We have staff members in place to take on the roles. However we have a cabinet in the office which holds all our personal information/files- this is not locked ( the office can be locked when not in use but all have access to the keys if need be) Am I allowed to request my personal information/folder to be removed from this area and put in my locker which only I have access to. To ensure others cannot ever trespass and view my confidential/sensitive information, as I have concerns about this and do not trust this will be adhered to at all times.
Many thanks in advance.

Su 01/07/2023 at 10:13 pm

I was bullied and harassed by the head of the office, he then gave me a very low-performance score to prevent me from getting me performance reward and promotion. I sent a subject access request to my employer for a copy of my original annual performance review form for 5 years when I worked with this officer. They were unwilling to give me a copy of the original document but gave me the scores for each year only and claim they have meet the criteria of UKGDPR. I had reported this to ICO but ICO replied that because my employer belongs to the consulate catalog so ICO cannot do anything to my employer. I reported this to the headquarter of the country my employer is from, and the response from the HQ says, the consulate is required to follow UK law. So basically my grievance has nowhere to go when my right has clearly been damaged. Any suggestions, please?

Ella 23/05/2023 at 2:53 pm

Hi, I was dismissed from work end of January, with out any discussion or any notice, I asked for a copy of my supervision and the the decision of ending my employment, they give me a paper which is not accurate, but no supervision copy, which anyway was in disagreement with the decision, and all this it happened after I complained about work conditions.
Also I specify that I was in my provisional period.

I asked again for the copies of my certificates and supervision and I had no answer from them.
My question is: what to do next?

Thank you.

Concerned 15/03/2021 at 5:50 pm

Is my company’s Internal Audit department allowed to see my personnel file without my permission??? They are conducting an audit of our HR department and have been given my file to review.

Lizzie 18/01/2021 at 12:50 pm

Asking in behalf of my son who has been asked to leave his previous employer 12 months ago, due to a fb post of 8 years ago. Can he request a copy of his HR files as he feels victimised & excluded from returning to the company.

Robert 22/10/2020 at 4:04 am

I called up my works health place to ask for advice on covid. Now my employer has asked the medical centre for call records is this legal plaese

HP 08/10/2020 at 5:47 am

Hi,
I have asked my ex employer several times to remove me from their website. They keep ex employees in ‘About Us’ to up-profile the company despite making me redundant. My photo and a brief description about me remains as me being part of the Senior Team. This is really annoying as I now work for another company.

HeDa 14/09/2020 at 3:46 pm

Hi, I have recently been referred to OH by my employer. Upon the telephone consultation the clinician read out my employers referral letter which had many inaccuracies in it. I was told my the clinician that my employer should have gone through the letter with me first, is this a legal requirement? Does this come under the data protection act? Also they told me that I could ask for a copy from my employer-upon doing so they told me this is not their normal process. I am under the belief that I am within my rights to request to see my personnel file which should contain this document, am I right in thinking this and which act of law says that? Thank you

Jay 09/07/2020 at 11:55 am

I wish to obtain all information that a former employer holds about me, including occupational health assessment reports. I left the employer just under 12 months ago, are they required to keep such information and, if so, are they obliged to share them with me?

lc 14/05/2020 at 11:05 am

My former employer of two years ago has been sharing my data with a third party, in the form of private insurance. I received a letter from said private insurance stating my health benefits had been renewed by my previous employer and are now active. Much to my shock, I logged into the private insurance website and my benefits from previous employer are sure enough active. It's really concerning and feel a great breach in terms of GDPR that they are mishandling my personal data and don't even know if I am still employed with them or not. What sort of action can I take? Many thanks.

AnnieT 11/10/2019 at 4:00 pm

Am I entitled to copies of HR policies following dismissal?

Quinny 19/09/2019 at 3:01 pm

Is my line manager allowed to write just anyone’s name as next of kin without my consent

Crewe 30/05/2019 at 10:42 pm

Hi, I have an ex employee who is requesting all emails sent and received from the computer they worked on for the 2 weeks they were there, the email they used was not a personal one but our normal sales@ address. Are they able to access this as some of the emails contain delicate information from customers I.e orders placed plus some of the emails in were just general advertising so not clear what emails I should produce

Crewe 30/05/2019 at 10:41 pm

Shell3219 02/03/2019 at 2:22 pm

I believe my employer maybe using an external company to gain surveillance on me as I have recently had a few issues and my sickness record shows this. When I request my information from employer and ask for all external information. Will they provide this if they have instructed somebody.

K 28/09/2018 at 8:20 pm

I have just left my employer. We had to complete training for our work in our own time but we're told we had to pay £25 if we wanted the training certified.
As my new employer wishes to know that I have completed these trainings successfully, I am asking my ex employer (agency) to confirm my training record with them which they must have in order to have given me shifts as an Health Care Assistant. Can they refuse?

Ncw 28/06/2018 at 10:27 pm

My ex employer withholds medical conformation documents that I need for my new job, every time I ask for them he gives me an excuse. I have asked him several times and now he is ignoring me. I could easily ask for new ones from the medical centre but where I’m from I would have to pay for it, just wondering if I’m in the right to be asking for them back?

NeilM 27/06/2018 at 8:39 pm

My employer tracks the vehicles i drive. Can I get the data the company provided to me?

Jaime 02/06/2018 at 8:02 am

I had a back problem at work 2 years ago, where I was seen by specialists, physiotherapists, occupational health. Was also given a drs note to say find me alternative work to what I was doing. My new supervisor has now moved me to another job and was not aware of my problems. When I asked about my paperwork etc.. Was told there is no paperwork for me having back problems. I've sent him a copy of the occupational health file I had kept but have nothing else. Can my multi million pound company just lose all the paperwork I have had?? If so who can be held accountable because it looks like I have to go through the whole process again of being made to feel like I'm lieing and being told I will be sacked on medical grounds even though I've had no time of or any other problems with my back for over 2 years by being in the job I was moved from. Any help would be much appreciated. Thank you

Hel 22/05/2018 at 12:17 am

Hi
My daughter is taking her ex employer to a tribunal. Can she get the files they have about her before the tribunal

Jude Editor 24/04/2018 at 9:39 am

@tom - Additional information also will have to be disclosed by organisations alongside the personal data they provide in response to SARs (subject access requests). The ICO site has a 'Find out how to request your personal information' page which tells you how to request the specifics.

tom 23/04/2018 at 4:09 pm

hello. I want to understand if under the new regulation (or even now) I can access to all the file (including minutes, comments, anything filed basically) regarding my job in a company I left in May 2014. Reason I am asking is that I was in the middle of a greviance that I raised as I felt I was being mobbed by my manager (including HR manager) and my colleagues. I was lucky enough to find another job whilst in the middle of this nightmare and so I left all drop. However, I wonder what were the comments on me that came out during the various meetings and to see if there is a way I can still sue them, given I have witnesses. Can you please confirm that they cannot deny access to me to anything they filed regarding me?

Enraged 23/04/2018 at 12:45 am

On Friday after I had already received mail a letter which had clearly been opened appeared through my letter box. The letter had my name on the envelope but had been incorrectly addressed with my next door neighbors house number on it.
The letter contained a written warning from my employer with a transcript detailing my fairly embarrassing major mistake I had been disciplined for together with a fairly detailed transcript of a number of medical and mental health problems I had given as possible reasons for my lapse in concentration.
I am absolutely furious that my employer has made this disgusting irreconcilable mistake to the extent that I not only feel they should retract the written warning and erase it from their records but also financially compensate me. I rang the HR dept immediately I realised what had happened-16.32 on a Friday they had gone home. It’s probably just as well they had for both our sakes.
And II am equally disgusted that my neighbour who I don’t get on with has possibly accessed this information but I am not sure what to do - confront her or get my company to write to hear asking her to contact them and state whether or not she read this letter. And get my company to warn her of the consequences of tampering with mail.
I feel unreasonably wronged. How do you suggest I approach this?

thearrows 19/04/2018 at 10:07 pm

I'm in the UK, I had to call my HR department and the women I spoke to suddenly put me on speakerphone during the call without informing me or asking my permission to do so. She then went on to try and draw me into a conversation about a personal injury claim I have made against the company. She was trying to put words into my mouth.
Can someone please say if she has breached any Acts for putting me on speakerphone during a private conversation, Data Protection Act 1998, Human Rights Act etc...

Many Thanks

EmployeePrivacyRights Editor 17/04/2018 at 10:32 am

You can see more whichwhich will give you more information in addition to the information outlined in the article.

CraigF82 16/04/2018 at 12:16 pm

I am in the middle of an appeal process from my soon to be ex employer and I am curious to see all the information that has been said about me, is it possible to have all access from any communication example emails between managers etc? I believe the reasons are very much personal and I have evidence that the business reasons are not the dismissal

EmployeePrivacyRights Editor 05/04/2018 at 9:23 am

It is very difficult to comment on your question, as much depends why this accusation has surfaced and how. You would have to speak to your HR or line manager directly regarding this matter as it obviously has put you in a difficult position within your place of work.

Rusty 04/04/2018 at 11:30 am

I have been accused of puttinng a complaint in against somone and it as resulted in this person having a mark on there file..this is of cause very untrue..how can i proove i have not done this..should my name be documented if i had done this.

EmployeePrivacyRights Editor 23/03/2018 at 10:49 am

In the first instance, if you are unhappy with this colleague's actions you would have to mention this to your line manager to see if the matter can be resolved informally. If you’re not satisfied, you can make a formal grievance complaint in writing -

Kazzmac 22/03/2018 at 1:22 am

Hello, my firm have recently changed their personnel person. The lady they have hired is the worst gossip in the office & is always divulging private information. Can I request she not have access to my file? Many thanks

NJohjn Editor 05/03/2018 at 12:56 pm

@none If the terms and conditions of your job have changed as a result then yes.

None 02/03/2018 at 4:21 pm

My job title was changed and I didn't know about it, have my employer got to notify me

None 02/03/2018 at 4:17 pm

As an employee, are you suppose to be notified if your job title gets changed & can I have a copy of the file

Irish7 23/02/2018 at 12:34 am

I recently had to end my employment at a school due to ill health and would like to have my personal file, am I entitled to have it or can the school refuse to give it to me? Do I have to give them a reason as to why I require it? Many thanks.

Vonny 11/12/2017 at 6:34 pm

Am I entitled to get a copy of my personal file and discipline record from a previous employer? What do I do if I find records have been erased or hidden to protect the company?

EmployeePrivacyRights Editor 18/09/2017 at 11:08 am

You can see more via the link here and here which should help answer your question.

Cathy 15/09/2017 at 2:06 pm

I would like to know if I can read my personal file with the company I work for
AS on my interview I explained the reason why I couldn't work weekends, and was agreed, lately they have been putting me to work weekends and if I want to stop weekends I have to change my availability
I want to know if the information will show this information

Maz 10/05/2017 at 8:53 pm

Hello,

For the last few years I have worked through a agency and recently have applied for a permanent post. One of the requirement is that I provide my recent appraisal that I had done with a hospital that I worked at for over a year.

I got in touch with the agency asking for a copy of my appraisal and was told they cannot give me that information. After looking at this site and the information, I forwarded them what my rights are.

Can they still refuse and how can I push for my own information.

Thank you

Be 25/02/2017 at 6:32 am

My old manager retired left my personal file in a drawer that wasn't lock that included my social security number on numerous of papers.Along with my driver license copy and many personal information on my medical history and my daughter medical information when I was out when my daughter was ill. What should I do ?

Kkkkrazzzy 21/01/2017 at 10:48 am

To everyone asking g questions on here the best way to move forward is to raise a subject access request to your employer (Google it) and if they don't supply you with the correct information contact and report them to the information commissioner's office (ICO). The ICO can investigate your employer

Kuma 16/11/2016 at 12:10 pm

I am trying to get a copy of my personnel file from my company, they have said I can view it in an enclosed space with a manager watching, but not allowed to take copies. Can I demand a copy?

The specific piece I want a copy of an email from one manager to another saying that I am crazy and a liar, which I believe has prevented my career moving forwards within the company.

Taz16590 09/09/2016 at 8:34 am

My partner recently asked our employer for a copy of all of his certificates etc..(16 years worth) only to be told by HR that there was nothing in his file. Not even a health and safety certificate or banksman certificate never mind training certificates for the machinery he uses daily!! Surely this cannot be right? They cant have employed him for 16years without even so much as a manual handling certificate. Is there anything he can do as hes done all that overghose years to be told he has literally nothing?

EmployeePrivacyRights Editor 01/08/2016 at 10:55 am

I am sorry to hear you have had a difficult time through your life due to undiagnosed autism. However, you cannot claim for disability discrimination if your autism was not diagnosed and the company was not aware of your disability at the time. However, getting a diagnosis of autism (including Asperger syndrome) can be a really positive step in helping you to understand why issues have been difficult in the past and how to move on and towards a brighter future, please see the National Autistic Society whichI hope this helps.

Si 31/07/2016 at 10:57 am

I worked for ICI for 3 years between 1978 and 1981 ans was incessantly bullied and discriminated against because I was different and had differeng attitudes beliefs and values to my colleagues. I had a nervous breakdown because of all the mental cruelty and mockery and negative appraisals to which I was subjected. This caused me to leave because their treatment of me following an operation, and loss of my Grandma was so unbearable that I just couldnt hold on to my position anymore. I recently discovered in March 2016 that I have had Aspergers Syndrome and an array of complex Traumas ptsds from losing my Father at age 5, from being bullied throughout my life for being different and from social, career rejections and traumatic mistreatments by them. I have really had my human rights contavened in a major way and this has left me with scarring and life long anger because of the unjust way in which these people have behaved.I really do believe that these bosses at ICI were completely instrumental in giving me bad references that were written by them. This resulted in me experiencing multiple career failures for many many years. This on top of me having an undiagnosed autism disorder and complex ptsds made me feel crudhed in heart, spirit and mind. It was so horrible that I could not explain to any living soul just how bad this made me feel. I am too ill to work these days, however, Can I get to find out what they have said about me in the past, how can I get justice for what has been done to me and I get any compensation from them for the abuse that I have suffered as a result of being mistreated by them and of the scarring and anger a revulsion which I still feel to this day as a result of the contraeention of my human rights and of ghem discriminating against my disabilities? Regards Simon

EmployeePrivacyRights Editor 08/06/2016 at 2:45 pm

I can only suggest you contact the NHS HR and ask for it's complaints policy and procedure. If you have not obtained a resolution from the NHS HR department directly, then you will need to take this further.

nhsslave 07/06/2016 at 8:26 pm

I've worked with the nhs since 1988. I was a trainee scientist until Jan 1990, when I became fully qualified and been there ever since. I found out that they have me as an nhs employee fro 1988 until Jan 1991 - outwith the science department.
This is incorrect as I've never worked in any other department.
I've been trying to get them to correct this but I'm getting nowhere. I want to apply for other jobs (not science related) as my kids are now grown but if my CV doesn't match my employment record, it might cause an issue.
What can I do?

Itsnofun 16/05/2016 at 5:01 pm

I have recently requested a copy of all my appraisals since joking the company. The HR team tell me they can only find the last two. What rights do I have to demand they find them.

ConcernedEmployee 14/05/2016 at 6:46 pm

I've not long been in a new role at a software company and only recently I have become aware that (quite possibly from day one) my boss and other members of my department have been consistently going through my personal data from home, this includes browsing data, personal emails and potentially anything else linked to my google account. I became aware that through google chrome all my personal data was being synced, I had a program that was supposed to wipe any such data but this appears to have not been working. I started to become aware of this after I noticed I was receiving strange comments and attitudes from colleagues and members of staff and this culminated in one evening when I made some searches online regarding this. The following day I over heard comments saying he knows now. This whole thing has really terrified me and has left me feeling violated in a way I have never experienced before. At no point had they stated this was going on nor given any valid reason for doing so. Clearly such private information I do not wish to share with work colleagues and at no point was I using the work computers for anything other than what I was supposed to be doing. I think also details about my private life have been spread around the business and I don't know how to proceed from here. The whole thing has really stressed me out and I have recently had to take time off sick due to it. I want to ensure any such data they hold is deleted and this voyeuristic game (this is how it seems) of theirs to come to an end. Please advise, many thanks.

Sam 19/04/2016 at 10:12 am

Hi

I am the HR Manager of a small company and as such have access to all personnel files including my own and have done for some 11 years.

I recently made a copy of the electronic file containing my contract, P60s, P11Ds and salary reviews.

I made my manager aware that I had copied my personal informaiton and he is kicking off asking when I made a formal access request (we don't have a policy for this in our company)

My reply is that I didn't formally request access because I already have access to this information and have done for 11 years and I have simply made a copy of my own data.

Have I done anything wrong here?

Jberg 14/04/2016 at 10:06 pm

I asked my past employer for a confirmation of past employment with only factual information (dates of employment, position and that I resigned on my own accord) but they declined my request referring to their policy only to confirm past employment within the last seven years. I worked for them eight years ago but the program I am applying for requires me to confirm ten years of employment. Is my past employer within their rights to decline to confirm that I worked for them? Can I request whatever information they may still hold on me under the Data Protection Act?

Employment Law Consu 18/03/2016 at 11:29 am

Good morning

I was doing some research and came across this site and the thread below. Some of the experiences that are being described here ought possibly to result in a tribunal claim.

This is not meant to be legal advice; but from what I've read, in particular for example; Be Creative & Grievance, they ought to be assessed against legal advice to see if you have the basis of a claim.

EmployeePrivacyRights Editor 22/02/2016 at 11:22 am

Employers can do credit checks on employers (if advised in their contracts) to see whether they have a history of financial mismanagement (especially if the role involves the handling of money, accounts or sensitive data) and only while your contract is valid. I suggest seeking legal advice to see whether your employer is acting within its boundaries, I suspect not if you have left the company and where the investigation is not relevant to the tribunal.

Bobby 21/02/2016 at 11:07 am

A previous employer has carried out credit checks and a director sanction search on me months after I resigned. During my time there I was never disciplined but we are going to tribunal over unpaid wages. I was not employed as a manager or director and the company they used is a know your candidate which suggest pre employment checking system. In my contract there was a clause that said they may need to do checks however I have never been told about specific checks, when they will happen or how the info will be used. I think they are using this info to try and discredit me at tribunal. Is this a misuse of my information?

Be Creative 09/02/2016 at 1:10 pm

I was being bullied at work two members of my department. After complaining to my line manager the bullying got worse to the point of being physically assaulted. As usual it was made out that I was at fault and HR got involved. I stupidly though that HR were their to resolve issues in the work place. But the HR staff who interviewed me about being assaulted, asked me why this person attacked me, and then gave me the analogy of 'the old woman on the bus'. I was gob smacked she was their to justify this persons violent actions, and stated "well you should have moved when he told you too". I was later dismissed from my job. The HR department were also taping the interviews and changing the verbatim in the minutes and make out that I was admitting to something I had not done. This all happened six months ago. I could not until recently think about it as it was very difficult and very distressing.
I went to a job interview, got offered the job, and then the job offer was retracted from the company, and they told me verbally it was because of my previous job and to maybe look into it further. Am I able to get a copy of my personal file six months after leaving the company?.

SammieB 07/02/2016 at 4:49 pm

I've been made redundant recently and have asked for my personal file but my employer isn't replying to me or other employees. Can she legally keep these or does she have to give them to us?

EmployeePrivacyRights Editor 03/02/2016 at 3:09 pm

Many thanks for your comments, we will be interested to hear your feedback.

Grievance 03/02/2016 at 10:44 am

I contacted ACAS and I was advised to contact the Information Commissioner's Office to register a concern (go to ico.org.uk). I've done this and I'll let you know how effective it is.

Grievance 01/02/2016 at 5:53 pm

I have asked my employer for emails under the subject access request. The ones it forwarded where either edited or were irrelevant. I know for a fact that there are 3 or 4 emails regarding my health/well-being and my employer claims that they are not about me, so I don't a right to see them!

The edited email hasn't been edited in order to protect other people - it has simply been chopped and re-typed!

I have made 2 further requests to see the 'unedited' email, without success, and I have asked two times to see the other 4 emails - again, no success. Surely there must be an independent person who is able to go these companies and demand to see the original emails. otherwise, what on earth is the point? Companies can simply say it's not about me, or edited the original e-mails!

EmployeePrivacyRights Editor 01/02/2016 at 11:54 am

I think in this case I would give ACAS a call to talk to someone directly and to see what your options are.

Grievance 31/01/2016 at 2:34 pm

My employer is refusing to release emails to me under a subject access request that I'm reliably informed would confirm that my employer was aware that I was under intolerable stress prior to my long term absence from work. What can I do?

Jeff 13/01/2016 at 9:42 am

I am interested to know if access to personal records under the Data Protection Act applies to military personnel. I know the MOD has to comply with the act in terms of storing information but do they also have to comply with regards to access to it ? Thanks in advance

EmployeePrivacyRights Editor 05/01/2016 at 9:46 am

As specified in the article, under the Data Protection Act, you have the right to find out exactly what details your employer holds about you. If you have tried solving a problem by talking to your manager and/or HR and you’re not satisfied with the outcome, one option you could take is to make a formal grievance complaint, You may also wish to pose this question to ACAS and see what it advises is the best way forward. You can call directly, or chat online via whichI hope this helps.

Jolantru 04/01/2016 at 2:59 pm

I have twice asked my employer for copies of all documents they hold about me, up to 8 files, but they have said they are company property and I am not allowed them. Are they right? Or do they not want me to have them due to the poor way they treated me whilst I was depressed.

jesssica 06/12/2015 at 11:02 am

hi
I am applying for a new job and my previous employer will not give me copies of all certificates held by them . what can I do

EmployeePrivacyRights Editor 28/09/2015 at 10:24 am

As specified in the article, under the Data Protection Act, you have the right to find out exactly what details your employer holds about you. The simplest way to get access to your records is to ask for them. If you have a personnel manager in your organisation then they are probably the right person to contact in the first instance.

goodfella 26/09/2015 at 7:59 am

Hi.. can I ask my boss to show me emails they have had about me with HR?

EmployeePrivacyRights Editor 10/08/2015 at 12:38 pm

Your employer must comply with such a request by providing the individual with copies of the personal data within 40 calendar days from receipt of your request. Please see the TUC, Worksmart site via the link here which will give you more information of where to take this issue next. I hope this helps.

Maccapj 08/08/2015 at 2:31 am

My previous employer is refusing to provide my full personnel file. I have since instructed a solicitor who, in accordance with Data Protection, has paid the £10 administration fee yet my previous employer still refuses to provide my personnel file.
Where do I stand with this and go from here please?

Jo-Jo 09/07/2015 at 1:38 pm

Hi,

My Line Manager had a 1:1 with me and wrote handwritten notes. I requested a copy as it concerned complaints about my work. She refused and stated she would send me an email summary. Surely I am within my rights to request a photocopy?
I have been with the company almost 10 years, I feel that as I have had long periods of sickness in the last few years due to Mental Health issues that they are finding an alternative way to get rid of me.
Please advise if I am correct in that I can request access to all my Line Managers recent handwritten notes (especially as I do not get sent an email summary all the time).
Thanks in advance.

Nick Editor 30/01/2015 at 2:42 pm

@Gilly - is this in your place of work? If you have been assaulted by a work colleague then you should officially report it to your HR as it will come under gross misconduct.

Gilly 29/01/2015 at 9:44 pm

Hi I was assaulted ,I know for a fact that the person admitted this on paper,I have asked for a copy,I have been told by hr,that they at not at liberty to give me this information..what can I do??? Thks..

EmployeePrivacyRights Editor 30/10/2014 at 12:46 pm

@Guyrobinson - As specified in the article: 'The human resources department in your company does not receive many requests from employees for their records then they may try to dissuade you from accessing them or say they cannot provide them. Don’t let this put you off. There is no grey area here – you have a legal right to access your information, regardless of how difficult it may be for a disorganised business to pull your records together for you. All they can do is charge a minimal fee for access; they cannot deny it to you.' I hope this helps.

Guyrobinson 30/10/2014 at 7:59 am

Hi
I have resigned from last job , but I would like to view my personnel file to see / gain access to my appraisals etc
Have I got any claim to access ?
Regards

lee 26/09/2012 at 8:15 am

I have asked my last employer for copies of all certificates that i have gained whilst in their employ they have not sent any thing but copies of certificates that I gave them at the start of my employment 10 years ago.how can I get them to supply copies gained in thier employment

Jules 28/01/2012 at 10:24 am

If you apply for a second job and you ask a manager at your current job to supply a reference, does a copy of the reference they supply need to be kept in your personnel file?

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