Job Employment Referrals...question

TerriP

<font color=deeppink>"Slow 100 Post" Winner<br><fo
Joined
Aug 20, 1999
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Dh and I were having a discussion last night and he mentioned that it is illegal for your current employer to give out a referral. Now, when I applied for the last two jobs I received, the potential employer called my then-current employer. I thought this was standard practice. Dh said that his boss will only give the dates of employment...no personal comments on the employee, because he said he is liable for the comments he makes.

I think Dh is wrong. Can anyone verify for me? The reason we were talking about it is because a friend applied for a better job but was turned down because her current employer said she was incompetent and would not hire her again. (begs the question why they don't fire her then....but I digress)

Anyone know for certain???
 
I think it depends on your state, but a lot of employers won't give out much information. Many times they just give the dates you were there, and some tell whether or not you're eligible to be rehired, although that doesn't tell much since some companies have a rule to never rehire people.

I don't think that there are many laws saying that you can't give out more info, but companies have definitely been sued over it, so they're afraid to give out any more information.
 
Thanks for the reply, Kermit!! I've tried searching the web to see what Michigan's law is regarding this, but haven't had much luck. I'll have to keep lookin'!

Thanks again!!:D
 
I'm not sure about it being law, but I know in some instances it will be company policy. It's because people have sued former employers over a bad reference.
 

Most companies will only verify employment.
 
Our company will only verify dates of employment. We aren't permitted to give out any personal references, either. And we also can't say the reason for termination. Its a shame for those who have had stellar careers, but pretty good for those who got fired! :eek:
 
I work for a major insurance company and company policy is only to verify dates of employment and maybe last position held. I don't think they want to have problems regarding privacy laws.
 
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i don't think it's a law, just some companies' policy.

we do give out personal references, but if the person was fired or left under "strange circumstances" we have to refer the inquiry to HR. i don't know what HR says.

I've actually been checking references for some potential new hires here recently and all of the places I've called have given me more than dates of employment. Of course, so far all of the references have been good, so...
 
My old company only gave out dates of employment also. They never gave any sort of other information. The owner was afraid of being sued. I think in the past he had said something and it backfired on him.
 
My DH works for a major company in MI. He said that their company policy is to reveal dates of employment and that's about it. I don't know if it's a law but it helps bring the lawsuits down.
 

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