Surprise … a Reference Check!

Once in a while, you may receive a telephone call out of the blue asking for a reference check of a past employee.  You hesitate, you try to think quickly, and then you go to answer …. BUT before you do, there are several things you need to consider!

Did you know that if you if you give a disparaging reference for a previous employee, you potential expose yourself to a defamation action by the employee?

On the flip side, if you give a glowing reference about your past employee, you potentially expose yourself to a negligence or misrepresentation law suit by a future employer.

So in other words, you’re caught between a rock and a hard place!  So what do you do when asked for a reference?

Here’s six things to consider when giving employee testimonials:

1. Firstly, ask for the callers details – i.e. their name, company and phone number – and ensure that you list this in the employees file.  You never know when you might need to refer back!
   
   
2. Ask what position they’re applying for.  This will give you the context in which you can answer their questions in the most relevant light.
   
   
3. Only answer the questions that are asked of you.  Keep your answers brief and to the point.  It’s up to the reference checker to ensure that they ask you the right questions that will expose the answers that may be beneficial to them.
   
   
4. Always give truthful answers.  Never tell stories about the person, embellish the truth or engage in gossip or hearsay.
   
   
5. If the reference checker does ask you a question that requires a difficult answer, answer it simply and honestly.  You need to think about how to put your answer in a way that doesn’t sound like you’re defaming that person. 
   

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