3/10/09: In the West Virginia Legislature, HB 3032, introduced on March 10, 2009, would give employees the right to review their personnel files. The legislation has not been passed, and in prior legislative sessions, essentially the same bill was introduced without having been passed.
Many people have the incorrect understanding that, in West Virginia, an employer is legally required to allow an employee to review the employee’s personnel file. There is currently no such legal requirement, but the pending HB 3032 will change that if it is passed.
You can review the full text of the bill, and monitor its status on the Legislature’s site.
Update 8/1/10: As of this date, the West Virginia Legislature has not passed this bill. There is still no general requirement forcing employers to show employees their personnel files.