You recently sacked an employee for gross misconduct and thought that would be it. But now you’ve been asked for a reference on them. How much information on their dismissal is it safe to give
without landing your company in hot water?
Published 01.06.2007
When it comes to giving a reference, the law is pretty clear - employers must stick to the facts and keep their personal opinions well out of it. But what else can you do to protect your position?
Published 07.02.2013
You’ve been contacted by another employer who’s requesting a reference about a former employee. A colleague says that you can’t issue a reference unless they send you a consent form signed by the
former employee. Is this correct?
Published 26.03.2020
Many media reports on personnel issues give the impression that you can no longer give unfavourable references. Following a recent case is this true? If not, what must you be aware of before putting
pen to paper?
Published 03.05.2007
Providing a reference has become something of a risky business. Several high profile cases have made it clear that you really must take care in what you say or write. So how can you play it safe?
Published 09.03.2006
An employee recently raised a grievance and is unhappy about how you dealt with it. They now want you to disclose all written documentation relating to your investigation. Must you comply with their
request?
Published 15.03.2017
It was a huge relief when a nightmare of an employee resigned. But you’ve now received a reference request - seems like they want to be a headache for another unlucky employer. So is honesty the best
policy in this situation?
Published 09.03.2010
You’re concerned that some employees may not be handling customers’ telephone calls properly. To establish the facts, you’re thinking about secretly recording those conversations. Is this legal or a
complete no-no?
Published 11.06.2013
You’ve been told that if you mark a reference about an employee “private and confidential”, they will have absolutely no legal right to see it (meaning you can say what you like). Is this correct?
Published 16.06.2016
Under the GDPR employees have rights to access personal data. However, the new Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA) carves out a specific exemption for references. What do you need to know?
Published 19.06.2018