If you work — or recently worked — in Washington State, you have a powerful and often overlooked right: access to your own employee file. Knowing how to request it, what you’re entitled to receive, and what additional documents you can demand after termination can help give you clarity and leverage. Here’s a step-by-step guide to request your employee file. Step 1: Make a written request To get your personnel file, you simply need to make a written request to your employer. E