Potential Employer wants to speak to current employer

[Momto3Disneyprinces]

OK, so I have gone thru 2 interviews and a computer test, and it is down to me and one other person.....Now the Interviewer wants to talk to my current employer to break the "tie"...Didn't want to go down this road, but I asked the one co-worker I have confided in what the company line is on this type of thing. I found out that it is company policy that no employee is allowed to give personal references and anyone who receives a call must refer them to Corporate HR. (Which is in Texas...) The only thing they will do is verify my employment. So, I called potential back, and gave him the phone number...He didn't sound like he believed me, so I think I may have just lost out on that postion..... Oh well.....

Is this policy common? I have never worked for a big national company before, only little locals...

 

[cybrkitn]

I thought it was illegal for them to ask anything other than to verify your current/past employement . That is all my company will do is just verify that the person did or did not work for the company.

 

[Christine]

That's crazy. I didn't think anyone really did this.

 

[Maleficent13]

I think you will find that is standard policy most places. It can't be the first time this guy has heard that.

 

[Bob Slydell]

I thought it was illegal for them to ask anything other than to verify your current/past employement . That is all my company will do is just verify that the person did or did not work for the company.

I thought that was the standard policy at most companies as well.

 

[DVC-Don]

The only thing we can confirm is whether the person works/worked for us. Nothing else.

 

[LindaM]

I work at the Head Office of a large corporation (across Canada and US), I receive phone calls for past employees (and sometimes current ones), mostly employers are inquiring about the potential employee work habits. I myself call references that are given to me before I hire a new employee as well.

 

[luvmyboys]

I actually just graduated from business school last week, so this is my first "real" use of my expensive knowledge!

Because of slander lawsuits, most large organizations have adopted the policy of only confirming employment. Any negative comments from managers leaves the company wiiide open to expensive, difficult-to-prove litigation.

 

[lillygator]

I thought it was illegal for them to ask anything other than to verify your current/past employement . That is all my company will do is just verify that the person did or did not work for the company.

of your current empolyment, if you offer up personal ref's that a bit different.

 

[disneynut14]

I work in HR and the company policy is to contact HR for verification of dates and title only. However, that doesn't mean that people aren't giving references. Sometimes people will give out home numbers of supervisors and coworkers with the thought that if they call at home it is "off the record".

I know it is hypocrytical, but at my company we require 2 references for all new hires and one of them has to be a previous supervisor.

Lawsuits have made this very difficult. I think that in the future references are going to be done away with and background checks will become the norm.

 

[eclectics]

I thought that was the standard policy at most companies as well.

I always assumed it was the law, not just a policy.


"Yes, so and so worked here from this date to that date....Goodbye". I don't believe they are allowed to say anything more, but I could be mistaken.

 

[LukenDC]

OK, so I have gone thru 2 interviews and a computer test, and it is down to me and one other person.....Now the Interviewer wants to talk to my current employer to break the "tie"...Didn't want to go down this road, but I asked the one co-worker I have confided in what the company line is on this type of thing. I found out that it is company policy that no employee is allowed to give personal references and anyone who receives a call must refer them to Corporate HR. (Which is in Texas...) The only thing they will do is verify my employment. So, I called potential back, and gave him the phone number...He didn't sound like he believed me, so I think I may have just lost out on that postion..... Oh well.....

Is this policy common? I have never worked for a big national company before, only little locals...

I work in HR and it is not uncommon for employers to refuse to give references. I tell prospective employees that in lieu of a reference, I will accept a copy of their most recent performance review. If you have a performance review that you would feel comfortable forwarding to the prospective employer, you should call them and offer that.

 

[Bob Slydell]

I always assumed it was the law, not just a policy.


"Yes, so and so worked here from this date to that date....Goodbye". I don't believe they are allowed to say anything more, but I could be mistaken.

I wasn't positive whether or not it was an actual law or just standard operating procedure for most corporations? It wouldn't surprise me if it's the law, but this is far from my area of expertise.

 

[LukenDC]

I thought it was illegal for them to ask anything other than to verify your current/past employement . That is all my company will do is just verify that the person did or did not work for the company.

It is not a federal law, but may be state in law in some places. The law in DC, where I work, does not prohibit detailed references.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Yes, I would say that is standard procedure. However, we have been told things off the record and we have told people things off the record. Always verbal, NEVER in writing. Also, our personnel files are public records, only certain things have to be redacted.

 

[mickeyfan2]

OK, so I have gone thru 2 interviews and a computer test, and it is down to me and one other person.....Now the Interviewer wants to talk to my current employer to break the "tie"...Didn't want to go down this road, but I asked the one co-worker I have confided in what the company line is on this type of thing. I found out that it is company policy that no employee is allowed to give personal references and anyone who receives a call must refer them to Corporate HR. (Which is in Texas...) The only thing they will do is verify my employment. So, I called potential back, and gave him the phone number...He didn't sound like he believed me, so I think I may have just lost out on that postion..... Oh well.....

Is this policy common? I have never worked for a big national company before, only little locals...

No company can give out anymore information than that you worked.

An employee can give a personal reference only.

 

[lyzziesmom]

This is standard practice. Potential employers can only do an employment verification. They used to be able to ask more, but it is now illegal to give out any additional information. If you really need something, perhaps you could ask your boss or supervisor for a letter of reference?

 

[cybrkitn]

of your current empolyment, if you offer up personal ref's that a bit different.

Right. Personal references are completely different.

 

[cybrkitn]

It is not a federal law, but may be state in law in some places. The law in DC, where I work, does not prohibit detailed references.

Thanks for the clarifcation. I just remember an old manager of mine saying that it was illegal for him to give out more than just confirmation that the employee worked there. This was in answer to a call he got in reference to a former employee. This was well over 10 years ago at a previous job I had.

 

[eclectics]

It is not a federal law, but may be state in law in some places. The law in DC, where I work, does not prohibit detailed references.

So if a potential employer calls and asks about an applicant's attitude, lateness, job performance, etc. there is no law in D.C. barring you from discussing whatever you wish about your former employee?