New guidance on employment references

Employers often make an offer of employment to a suitable job applicant subject to obtaining satisfactory references from previous employment. This is called a ‘conditional offer’.

There is usually no legal obligation to provide a reference but if you are giving a reference it must be fair and accurate.

Employers who ask for references must handle them fairly and consistently.

Acas have recently released new guidance on employment references which includes guidance on:

· whether an employment reference has to be provided or not

· what an employment reference should include

· can an employer give a bad reference?

CLICK HERE to read full guidance.