Which item(s) should be kept separate from an employee's personnel file?

Medical information should be kept separate from an employee's personnel file to ensure compliance with privacy laws and regulations, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in the United States. This regulation emphasizes the importance of protecting sensitive health information, ensuring that it is not disclosed improperly and is accessible only to authorized personnel.

Keeping medical information separate not only safeguards employee privacy but also reduces the risk of potential discrimination or bias that could arise from the disclosure of medical conditions or histories during personnel management processes. This practice fosters a respectful and compliant workplace environment, highlighting the employer's commitment to protecting sensitive employee data.

On the other hand, performance reviews, payroll information, and training records generally contain information that is relevant to an employee's job performance, compensation, and development—therefore, they are typically housed within the personnel file.