HR TRIVIA: 201 Files

Why is the 201 File of Employees called the 201 File?

It's a term borrowed from the military, specifically the US Army. The US Army's folder for personnel record is called the DA Form 201, or 201 File. We borrow a lot of terms from the military since they are considered in history as the 1st formal organization.

Hence in our modern organizations we still use military terms such as rank and file, chain of command,division and others.