Found my filing in my personnell file at work

[Flamingo]

I would steal the whole file and let someone worry about where it went!

Catchmeifyoucan

Bad move - they would immediately suspect you if that was the only file missing or among a group that was missing. Best in this situation to leave sleeping dogs lie and not say a word and keep eyes/ears open, be diligent on the job and try to let it go and not worry about it.

[krielly]

I wonder what would happen if you wait a bit, and then request to see your personnel file. I would think they would have to share it with you, as it is YOUR information. I'd personally not give any advanced notice about your intention, but show up at HR one day asking to review it, and see what their reaction is when you question the clipping being part of your file..........Just a thought.

[BKOnce]

There are reasons why one afraid of HR files:

If you are afraid of people/friends at work see yours, it's too late...HR already got it, and if they want to rumour it around or not, it's also too late for you to know/prevent it already!

If you are afraid of HR bad evaluation on you, it's too late because you still have a job waiting & they already had it in their HEAD!.

If you are afraid of their bad referrals for you next new company/job, it is also too late!...They already got it in their heads.

So, everything is already too late at this point. Just pray that they don't lay-off anyone yet or the entire company don't go BK so everyone can still have the job!

Economy sucks! Everyone & every company will go BK soon on oil & gas!

[woeisme]

Where did the poster say that they didn't have permission to see their personell file? I also work at a small college, and employees have a right to see their file whenever they want. I can walk right over to the vice president's office right now, ask the secretary to see my file, and even have her make photocopies of anything that is in there that I want a copy of. In academics, the process is usually really open, and employees can see their files, there's no secrets that the employee doesn't have access to, so I think that concern is a little overblown in all the postings I'm seeing on here acting like the poster did something sneaky to find out that his BK clipping was in his file. It's much more likely that he asked to see his file, and saw the clipping.

I went over to take a look at my file last spring because I was putting together my portfolio for my tenure case, and found someone else's resume accidently misfiled in my file! Plus there was a supervisor's evaluation in there that I never saw before, even though the procedure should have been that I get a copy before it went into my file (luckily it was a good evaluation.) Actually we have three different files here, one in HR with things like our W-4's, I-9's, benefit packages, etc in it, one in the VP's office with all our work related evaluations and such in it, which our dept chair, division coordinator, VPs, Faculty Affairs committee, etc, all have access to, and then a separate file in the VP's office with confidential info like salary and contracts that only the employee and VP have access to. Probably the business office has another file on employees, since they are the ones that got my wage garnishment order for my CH 13 because it isn't in any of my other files on campus and has to be somewhere... but anyhow, just wanted to say that seeing one's personnel file doesn't necessarily mean you did anything wrong!

[Flamingo]

Where did the poster say that they didn't have permission to see their personell file? I also work at a small college, and employees have a right to see their file whenever they want. I can walk right over to the vice president's office right now, ask the secretary to see my file, and even have her make photocopies of anything that is in there that I want a copy of. In academics, the process is usually really open, and employees can see their files, there's no secrets that the employee doesn't have access to, so I think that concern is a little overblown in all the postings I'm seeing on here acting like the poster did something sneaky to find out that his BK clipping was in his file. It's much more likely that he asked to see his file, and saw the clipping. (Big Snip....)

In the majority of offices, and especially recently with the passage of a lot of privacy laws, HR files are usually kept under strict supervision with very few people having access to the information. Small offices could fall under various different office policies as to file access but most larger businesses or companies have strict policies in place. I wanted to ask the OP why he felt the need to look in his HR file? Did he just have the opportunity to look or was there a reason that he wanted to look and made the opportunity? That is why I mentioned that they may be watching him and he may have an inkling that they are or if he suspects or has heard rumours in the office. Many people going through bad financial or marital/divorce issues at home act differently in the office and may be missing a lot of time or making a lot of personal phone calls or spending more time on the computer not doing work. This COULD be his case (he doesn't explain much) and that clipping was put in there upon discovery in the paper as maybe something to mention to him at the next review if there was a decline in his performance. Only the OP could straighten that out. But in any event, it still does not mean much at this point and he should just let the matter go for now and just keep his ears and eyes open around the office for a while.

[chpxiii]

Remember folks, HR is NOT your friend. HR is there to protect the company as much as possible against lawsuits regarding employees, employment, and other related issues.

BTW, if I knew that my manager or boss was starting to keep notes about an employee, like Flamingo said, it is to start a case against the employee so as to fire them, I'd immediately start looking for another job. Companies need that to start to build an air tight case against possible wrongful termination lawsuits. And it is much easier to find a job when you have one, then when you don't. And that way, you get to leave on your own terms.

[FreshLikeADaisy]

Remember folks, HR is NOT your friend. HR is there to protect the company as much as possible against lawsuits regarding employees, employment, and other related issues.

Truer words were never spoken.

[BKOnce]

OP is currenly working for/near HR dept., so that why she/he can access files & see what is in store now.

[JollyGG]

First, you could get a warning if it was found out you were snooping in personnel files unless you have authorized access to them; with privacy laws now in effect, you would have one heck of a time explaining your way out of that one.

No he wouldn't. As long as the only file he looked at was his own. Each and every one of us has the legal right to see our file. At work, at our bank, anywhere that they have a file on us. We have the right to see it. If anyone ever tells you differently find a lawyer. We legally cannot remove anything from said file. We can add a note of explination but otherwise cannot change personell files. But we sure as heck can see what is said about us.

[Flamingo]

It is not the norm for a BK clipping to be attached in one's personnel file or they would also put in engagement announcements, wedding announcements, property transfers, traffic tickets, or any other public information where your name could have been in the newspaper or printed off the internet. Something is up and I think the OP knows it or else he would not have been enticed to look in his own file. Otherwise all would still be fine. I know where a file is kept on me and others by my boss in his office but in the 8 years I have worked for my company, I have not looked in it nor at anyone else's file that reports to him. I don't think I have a need to; if I suspected something, it might be difficult to resist but I still don't think I would take that chance (they are just informational files, not personnel files). HR policies in our office are strict and forms need to be signed if items are requested for review or files subpoenaed due to strict privacy laws. My main personnel file is in our corporate office in another city. Personnel files contain copies of all reviews, employment letters or contracts, Letters from former employers and Letters of Recommendation, resumes, promotions, educational certificates or degrees obtained during employment or other related documentation sent to that file by your boss or HR Manager/Supervisor. Usually when a case is being built up against an employee they are planning to fire, the file with that information is kept separate from the personnel file and in a very safe location, usually not in the same office area but maybe at another location of the business at their corporate site so the employee will not suspect. So it is interesting that that clipping is in the personnel file. I still believe it is there as a reminder for something to come up during his review as to someone maybe noticing a change in his performance to which it could be related. But I still feel the best course of action for the OP is not to do a thing and do not divulge that he was in that file and saw that clipping. Having a copy of that information is also bad and I would not indicate to others that you copied anything out of that file. Also do not keep the copy in your office; file it at home.

[Flamingo]

No he wouldn't. As long as the only file he looked at was his own. Each and every one of us has the legal right to see our file. At work, at our bank, anywhere that they have a file on us. We have the right to see it. If anyone ever tells you differently find a lawyer. We legally cannot remove anything from said file. We can add a note of explination but otherwise cannot change personell files. But we sure as heck can see what is said about us.

You can request your file but unless you have authorization or approval to have direct access to personnel files, you just cannot walk into HR, to the file cabinet and pull out your file to look at it. You have to sign a form each time you review it. I don't think the OP requested the file for his review according to his posting. Now if he had authorized access to his own files and others' files by working in HR, that's different but he probably would have noticed that clipping sooner if he worked there and had access. Now that he saw the clipping, he probably wants to start asking questions which could get him in trouble. It's been almost a year since he filed and he just found the clipping so it may have been there a while. Unless he suspects something, I believe all is OK.

[FreshLikeADaisy]

Flamingo, that sounds like really good advice about keeping his mouth shut. Nothing at all to be gained by letting anyone know he saw that. It's not the kind of thing worth fighting just by itself, IMO, because as potentially nasty as it is, no actual action has been taken against the OP at this time and it's not a good idea to stir anything up just prior to a contract renewal. I agree the OP should let it ride and see what happens...

[nosrus77]

Well, let me address a couple of things.

We're in a period of transition. My immediate supervisor is retiring, and I'm slated to take his position. He was out last week, and an issue came up that we had been jointly discussing. When getting the pertinent file, I found a file with my name on it, and snooped.

It wasn't hidden, in as much as I have been given permission to get files that we have been working on together, and it was next to them. Did I have permission to view that specific file. . . no.

It is a newspaper clipping. I filed 5 days after I started employment here last year, so the background check turned up nothing. Had the background check showed a BK, I probably wouldn't have been hired. We waited to have the birth of our fourth child before we filed. Lost job, had a baby, won't get into it now, similar story to a lot of folks.

Regardless, I've done a good job, have not recieved any negative feedback, but still concerned that it will throw a monkey wrench into things. Thanks for all the posts.