What information is recorded in personnel records and why is it needed?

Question

Business Administration NVQ2 Question

Answer 1

Great question and I can help from experience, taking you from the "point of hire".  Employee has the "job" and "working".  

"Personnel records" are used to establish an employees "performance".  Most importantly, "records" are used to prepare periodic "reviews", i.e., usually annually or semi, "grade"  each individual, establishes improvements to be made, shows both "strong" and "weak" points, establishes a "documented path" for "termination".  Bottom line, "personnel records" establish your "pay increases", advancement, opportunities to transfer, future employment, etc.

Unfortunately, recent "independent" surveys of major corporations including, CocaCola, Georgia Pacific, UPS, Bank of America, etc., "showed" in 90% of those reviewed nothing but "negative" remarks, with NO "positives" in the "personnel records".  Think about how "devastating this can be when you "do your job", always on time, offer to help in support routinely, overall,  "good", "dedicated", "responsible" employee, but one time you did "something" wrong and was recorded by the manager.

We, as Americans, have become a "society" of "negative" people.  TV news is a good indicator, only, for the most part, "negative" reporting.  "Personnel Files" is a "good" reflection when only the "negative" is the focus to document.  This in mind, I tell all I know, at any level of employment, KEEP YOUR OWN DOCUMENTED FILE.  Use not to put every "little" thing, but for "events" you have excelled or gone "above and beyond" expectations or "job description", times you assist in support, if you made a "mistake" steps you took to correct, etc.  Indicate dates and "name of project" or assignment.  Believe me, your immediate manager has a "file", used by him when necessary, YOU NEED "ammunition" as well.  

Last known FACT, companies, and always in large corporations, there are many with a "file" on you.  List includes, if applies, team leader, supervisor, manager, division manager, V.P. responsible to your area, HR, etc.  Anyone responsible for YOUR performance or that of your department maintains a "file" and "documented" information is "transferred" up-the-line.

This is from my experience and hope is information you can apply.