Do you take up or give references?

A lot of employers are failing to take up references as there is a subliminal message that you may risk being taken to tribunal for breaches of confidentiality.

Our recommendation is that you should always give factual references to future employers and you must always take up references for new starters.

Giving a reference - As an employer you are obliged to give a factual reference upon request from potential new employers.  The reference must be free from subjectivity and be entirely factual based on tangible evidence.  Our guide would be only include information that is known between you and your former employee.  Do not add subjective opinions or information that was not known by your former employee.  For example this would be wrong - "If he hadn't of voluntarily left we would have sacked him".  You can only write that he left voluntarily.

Requesting a reference - First only make a job offer conditional on receipt satisfactory references.  Always request a written reference, as this is a chance for you to check if your new employee is honest.  Ask direct questions, for example - What dates was he/she employed by you, what was their job role and responsibilities and why did they leave their job.  It is amazing that these three very precise and fact based questions can come back with different details as to the cv your potential new starter produced at interview.