The powers and duties of the commission shall be as follows:
It shall prepare and hold open competitive examinations in order to test the relative fitness of all applicants for appointment to the classified service. At least 2 weeks' notice shall be given of all such examinations.
It shall cause to be kept in each department and division thereof, records of the service of each employee, known as "service records". These records shall contain fact statements on all matters relating to the character and quality of the work done and the attitude of the individual to his work.
It shall keep a roster of the employees of the county, together with a record of service, military or naval experience and such other matters as may have a bearing on promotion, transfer or discharge. All such "service records" and employees' records shall be confidential and not open for public inspection.
Anything in this act to the contrary notwithstanding, the commission, upon the recommendation of the appointing authority, may grant regular status in the class of common laborer to any employee who has completed at least 12 months continuous satisfactory employment in the county service as a provisional laborer in accordance with such rules and regulations as shall be established by the commission.
MCL 38.412