To print this article, all you need is to be registered or login on Mondaq.com. Plaintiffs' attorneys often request an employee's personnel file and payroll records to assess the strengths and weaknesses of their client's case prior to filing a formal complaint. Often, they review the records to find additional violations, such as wage and hour violations. The California Labor Code provides employees the opportunity to request both their personnel file and their pay records. Failure to provide the requested documents timely can expose the employer to a penalty. Personnel File Request Under California Labor Code section 1198.5, an employee or his