On October 11, California’s Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 513, expanding employee rights under Labor Code § 1198.5 to inspect and obtain their personnel records.

Existing law grants current and former employees the right to inspect and receive copies of personnel records maintained by their employer that relate directly to the employee’s performance or any grievance concerning the employee. Effective January 1, 2026, SB 513 broadens the scope of what qualifies as a “personnel record” to include materials related to education and training provided by the employer.

What Employers Need to Know

Expanded Definition of Personnel Records

The amendment now expressly includes education and training records within the definition of personnel records. Employers who maintain education and training records must ensure they contain the following information.

• The employee’s name.
• The training provider’s name.
• The duration and date of the training.
• The core competencies covered (including equipment or software skills).
• Any resulting certification or qualification.

The amended statute does not impose an independent obligation on employers to maintain education and training records. However, if an employer does so, it must make sure that those records include the above information. Presumably, this new statutory requirement will disincentivize employers from maintaining records relating to education and training unless they are otherwise required to do by another statute or regulation....

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