Access to Personnel Records: New Compliance Obligations for NY Employers
New York employers will have to give current and former employees a free copy of their personnel records within five business days of a written request, starting Nov. 8, 2026. The law applies to public and private employers of any size. Employers must also notify workers within 10 calendar days when they add potentially negative information to a file, include the employee's written response to disputed entries, and keep records for three years after employment ends. Violations carry fines of $500 to $2,500.
