California employers are required to allow current and former employees the right to inspect or receive copies of certain payroll records. Employers must make and provide the copies, and cannot require employees to find ways to make the copies on their own.
The information that may be requested includes the itemized wage statement that is commonly attached to the employee's paycheck. By law, this itemized wage statement must include specified information.
The employer must comply within 21 days of a request by a current or former employee. The failure to comply entitles the employee to recover a penalty of $750, as well as bring a court action requiring compliance and recover costs and attorney's fees.
You can find more information in the Access to Payroll Files section of the HR Library.