Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals, Inc. v. Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry

**What This Case Was About** A former employee of Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals wanted to see her personnel file after being terminated. The hospital refused to provide access to the file. The worker complained to Pennsylvania's Department of Labor, arguing that state law (the Personnel Files Act) gave her the right to view her employment records even after leaving the job. **What the Court Decided** The Pennsylvania Supreme Court sided with the hospital. The court ruled that Pennsylvania's Personnel Files Act only applies to current employees, not former employees. Even though the worker had been recently fired, she no longer had the legal right to access her personnel file once her employment ended. **Why This Matters for Workers** This decision limits workers' rights in Pennsylvania. If you want to see your personnel file—which might contain important information about your performance reviews, disciplinary actions, or reasons for termination—you need to request it while you're still employed. Once you're fired or quit, you lose this right under state law. Workers who think they might need their personnel records should request them before leaving their job, as they won't be able to get them afterward.