How to Respond to Requests for Reference Checks

How to Respond to Requests for Reference ChecksHow to Respond to Requests for Reference ChecksYoud think that supplying a reference for a former employee should be a simple, straightforward activity that managers and Human Resources practitioners routinely handle. But, in the US, in the litigious environment that exists, providing a simple employment reference, in response to a reference check request, is no longer widely practiced. In fact, fruchtwein companies assign reference checks to the Human Resources staff. This means that obtaining a reference that reveals any information about the candidate you propose to hire is increasingly difficult. Traditionally, managers and supervisors of candidates are your best sources of information. In an earlier article, the different approaches available for reference checks for former employees were discussed. The recommended approach to a verbal employment reference differed based on the employees wertzuwachs while he or she worked for your o rganization. The recommended response to a request for a written recommendation, especially the forms that request numeric responses that rate employees, remains the same. Send the form to your HR staff person. Informal Verbal Reference Checks These sample employment reference and verification of employment policies are suitable for the majority of reference checks, especially those checks requested in written format. In the earlier article, an unwritten, more informal reference discussion, that the immediate supervisor might hold with the potential employer, was described. Especially in the case of a valued, performing former employee or current employee, you may want to informally discuss their contributions with a prospective employer. In this way, you assist your former colleague to select and receive an appropriate employment opportunity. You enable the prospective employer to experience a certain comfort level with his or her employee choice. Since a reference check phone call comes late in the employee selection process, rest assured that your comments are confirming what the prospective employer has decided through the application and interview process. You are not, at this point, providing a lot of new information for the prospective employer if their hiring process was comprehensive. Guidelines for Informal Reference Checks Research online indicates that certain employers, especially universities and government entities, still appear to allow managers to provide responses to reference checks. (Policies of private employers are only rarely online.) Employees of companies that require employees to send formal, written reference checks to HR may also feel comfortable talking with a prospective employer informally. These themes about reference check content are worth noting for readers who decide to respond to a verbal reference check for current or former employees. Managers need training to provide these responses to reference check requests. P lease note the recommendations for when and whether a manager should provide a response to a reference check. Managers May Respond to Requests for Reference Checks Using These Guidelines When responding to a reference check request, managers may answer these questions and heed these warnings. Identify the job title, final salary, dates of employment, and major job responsibilities of the former employee.If you decide to provide any information about the employees performance, make sure that your response is balanced. The employee exhibited mostly positive work performance in these ways, but you had some concerns in these areas. These areas may or may not be relevant in the new job in any case, they are insufficient to preclude the employees hire. (Especially with a former performing employee, you want to boost the chances that they will receive a job offer.) Answer only questions about which you have information. Use the employees file including performance evaluations and other wri tten documents to provide specific, truthful examples that highlight the employees performance. Stay away from opinions, hearsay, and predictions.If you decide to provide negative information about the employee, provide information about which the employee has had feedback. Provide specific examples from the written documentation that have been shared with the employee. Questions Never to Answer About Former Employees You may refuse to answer these questions directly or deflect them with an answer that sidesteps the problematic components. (Example would you rehire the employee? Answer If all aspects of the employees experience, education, job performance, and interests remained consistent with the requirements of the position, yes, I would rehire the employee.) Watch out for these questions Any question that would reveal information about any aspect of an employees protected class for potential discrimination or civil rights protection. Examples of such questions includeQuestions about marital or partner status, family matters, personal health, disabilities, medical or attendance records, race, national origin, age, religion, gender, and so forth.Any question that would identify the political or legally protected employment-related activities of an employee such as union organizing, serving as a union steward, filing a grievance, political party affiliation or activities, worker compensation claims, insurance utilization, or employer-related lawsuits. Questions that are unrelated to the work setting or to work performance. These might include questions about the former employees interests, hobbies, volunteer associations, or association memberships. These are not the potential new employers business.Any question that asks you to predict the future performance of an employee. All you are qualified to respond to areemployer questions about the performance that you experienced, backed up with examples you have in writing. You cannot predict the performance of a n employee in a new job, in a new environment, for a new employer, in a set of circumstances that you cant define or know. With care and consideration, you can give valued performers an employment boost. Your informal, truthful, documented performance assessment may provide the tip of the scale in favor of your former employees next opportunity.