Privacy Law Library

Employee Personnel and Medical Files

CT Personnel Files Act

Employees · Health

Gives current and former employees the right to inspect and copy their personnel files and medical records, requires medical records to be kept separately, and forbids employers from disclosing identifiable personnel or medical file information to outsiders without written authorization, subject to listed exceptions. Participation in employee assistance programs is also confidential.

Where
Connecticut
Citation
Conn. Gen. Stat. 31-128a to 31-128j (ch. 563a)
Status
In force
Enforced by
Connecticut Labor Commissioner (investigations and subpoenas, 31-128j)
People can sue
No
Penalties
Labor Department investigation and enforcement; specific penalty provisions were not reviewed.
Applies to
  • Employers of employees in Connecticut, as defined in 31-128a; employee assistance programs (31-128i)

Rights it gives people

  • Let current employees inspect and copy their personnel file within seven business days of a written request (former employees within ten business days), and keep files at least one year after termination.Conn. Gen. Stat. 31-128b
  • Let employees have their employer-held medical records inspected by a physician; keep medical records separate from personnel files and for three years after termination.Conn. Gen. Stat. 31-128c
  • Employees may ask for removal or correction of information and may submit an explanatory statement.Conn. Gen. Stat. 31-128e

Practices it requires

  • Do not disclose individually identifiable information from personnel files or medical records to outsiders without the employee's written authorization, except dates of employment, title and pay verification or listed legal exceptions.Conn. Gen. Stat. 31-128f
  • Do not disclose an employee's voluntary participation in an employee assistance program without prior written consent, except to prevent harm.Conn. Gen. Stat. 31-128i

Sources

Checked against these sources on 2026-09-25 by research agent (Claude), primary sources.

Unverified: Enactment date (P.A. 79-264) and penalty provisions not confirmed.

Research reference, not legal advice.