What a SAR can—and cannot—do
It is a right to access personal information, not a general right to every document in an employer's files.
Information it may cover
- Personal information about you in HR records, appraisals and correspondence.
- Information about you in relevant workplace emails or investigation notes.
- Explanations about how your personal information is used.
Important limits
- It does not automatically give you every complete document or another person's private data.
- Some information may be lawfully withheld or redacted.
- It does not, by itself, postpone a workplace meeting or protect an employment claim deadline.
Have a meeting coming up soon?
Ask promptly for the allegations, relevant evidence and the employer's procedure for that meeting. A SAR can run alongside that request, but its usual one-month response period makes it a poor substitute for immediate meeting preparation.
A clear request, without unnecessary breadth
We work out what personal information you need and put it in terms the organisation can identify. You stay in control of what is sent.
Tell us the purpose
Give us the organisation, a useful date range and the types of records you are trying to locate. Do not send a full sensitive file at first enquiry.
We draft the request
You receive a tailored, reader-ready SAR for one organisation, plus one reasonable revision and straightforward sending instructions.
You send it
You can send the request yourself. If you want us to handle correspondence or examine the response, we agree that extra work separately.
Know the scope before you pay.
The fee covers scoping and drafting one subject access request to one organisation, sending guidance and one reasonable revision. It does not include sending on your behalf, chasing, analysing a disclosure bundle or an ICO complaint. We quote those separately once the work is clear.
You are paying for our assistance, not for the statutory right to ask for your information.
Questions we hear often
The right request depends on whose information you need and how soon you need it.
Can someone else make a SAR for me?
Yes, with appropriate authority. The organisation may need evidence that you authorised that person and may need to verify your identity. Our standard £99 service gives you a request to send yourself.
How long does a response take?
Organisations normally have one calendar month. They may take longer in certain circumstances, such as a complex request, if they explain the extension within the initial month. Identification or clarification can also affect timing.
Will I receive every email and unredacted note?
Not necessarily. The right covers your personal information, and exemptions or other people's rights may limit what is disclosed. We cannot guarantee a particular document will be provided.
What if I need a public body's policy or statistics instead?
That may be a freedom of information request. FOI is for recorded information held by public authorities, not your own personnel file.
Not sure which request fits?
Tell us what information you need and when you need it. We will explain the route and agree a fixed scope before paid work begins.
ProHearings is not a firm of solicitors and does not conduct litigation. Information requests do not guarantee disclosure or change workplace or tribunal deadlines.