job references

[equatorial]

what is the law on job references in UK?
ie
does the reference state how long the person worked there
does the reference give personal views on the person
and
what is a character reference

[teaboy2]

Re: job references

A reference must be a true and accurate reflection of facts during your employment with previous employer there is no legal prescribed form as to what is included, but it does normally include how long you worked their. Any false statements etc. would amount to libel - Though their is no legal obligation forcing an employer to give a reference, unless agreed with the employee (in writing) or as part of their contract of employment.

Most only confirm your time of employment, and job title. More in-depth ones include the following:

• length and dates of service
• positions held and key responsibilities
• performance
• punctuality and periods of absence (see Data Protection below)
• integrity
• relevant personal information
• reasons for leaving

Giving a personal view is a big grey area, because if the view given is misinterpreted it can lead to legal action against previous employ. hence why most never include person views.


Character references from employers must give true and accurate statement of you as a person. Though they usually can be given by friends, neighbors etc. Though most employers are not interested in character references and more interested in your employment history and reasons for leaving etc.

[FlamingParrot]

Re: job references

what is the law on job references in UK?
ie
does the reference state how long the person worked there
does the reference give personal views on the person

From what I've seen, many companies limit themselves to confirming dates of employment. Similarly, many employers seem more concerned with getting a detailed timeline with any gaps explained, than a 'real' reference in terms of your ability to do the job.

I can quote an extreme example where I was working as a 'temp' through an agency for two years with company A. My line manager Ms X left company A to work for company B but I stayed with company A for a further 6-8 months. At that point, Ms X said she had some work for me with company B and hired me as a limited company without going through an agency, but this being a big corporation, the whole thing had to go through HR. Even though Ms X was my line manager for 11/2 years at my previous job (company A), and she was the one who hired me, company B still wouldn't accept her as a referee, they insisted that the agency who sent me to company A should be the ones to provide a reference "because they paid me", even though I always dealt directly with Ms X regarding absences, etc. The agency was only able to confirm dates.

Furthermore, company B insisted in me sending proof of what I'd been doing for the last 5 years, during which I spent a year living abroad and a further few months in the UK but neither working nor claiming benefits. They asked for copies of my passport to prove I'd been abroad. :scared: I replied they'd only see I'd been in the US for 6 weeks, the rest wouldn't show since you don't get your passport stamped within the EU. I even submitted bank statements and a tenancy agreement for a flat abroad, and still had to submit a couple of personal references corroborating my whereabouts! And sign a "Statement of Truth"! All for less than a year's work, most of it done remotely from home! :loco:

It all depends on the employers, some ARE mad about dates and little else seems to matter. This was all in the infamou$ financial $ector, of course! :yell:

and
what is a character reference

Character references are mostly provided by people other than past employers, often used to verify gaps in employment. I've received endless reference requests from recruiters for a friend of mine who does freelance work but mostly through agencies, and he's always having to explain gaps in employment, I've often been asked to verify those.

The can also be useful when people haven't worked much recently, in the absence of employer's references.

Character references from employers must give true and accurate statement of you as a person. Though they usually can be given by friends, neighbors etc. Though most employers are not interested in character references and more interested in your employment history and reasons for leaving etc.

Or obsessed with finding out what you were up to every week in the past five years, as above.

Some people I know have also been asked for passport stamps and/or proof of claiming benefits.