Understanding 201 Personnel Files: What Should They Include and Why Are They Important?

What is a 201/personnel file? What should it contain?

A 201/personnel file, also known as an employee file, is a collection of documents and records related to an individual's employment within an organization. These files typically contain personal information, such as contact details, employment history, performance evaluations, training records, disciplinary actions, and any other relevant documents related to the employee's tenure at the company.

Having a well-organized and comprehensive personnel file is essential for HR departments to effectively manage employee information, track performance, and ensure compliance with legal requirements. It is crucial to maintain confidentiality and security when handling personnel files to protect sensitive employee data and prevent unauthorized access. Regularly updating and reviewing personnel files can help companies stay organized and make informed decisions regarding employee management and development.

Generally, this term appeared in the US military force. It is a set of documents maintained by the US government for members of the United States armed forces. 201 files usually contain documents describing the member's military and civilian education history. A 201 file may also contain personal information such as home of record and awards documents. Typically, a 201 file contains one or more of the following: Promotion Orders, Mobilization Orders, Service School Academic Evaluation Reports, Awards, Transcripts, etc.

Regards, DN

Hi Naresh,

It just depends on the requirement of your office. It may include resumes file, staff file, miscellaneous file, and rejected resumes file according to the staff's needs.

Regards,
Sourabh Sanyal

Personnel file means your resume, candidate form of the company, your academic records, copies of professional qualifications, address proof, ID proof, and if you worked somewhere else, then your last month's payslip for calculating the CTC of the previous company.

Regards,
Sourabh Sanyal