Well it’s that time when we see an increase in hiring. Sometimes it is for seasonal reasons and other times it is simply gearing up for the new year.
And one of our all-time favorite pieces of the puzzle is the reference checks and employment verification processes right?
Okay, maybe only if you’re an HR professional and…
1. Love picking people off the list
2. Love showing off all your knowledge of the rules or…
3. Just need to justify all those company paid Fred Pryor seminars (like me).
For almost everyone else, we just want to get it over with and start the training so we rush through the process. Not the best idea. Especially when it comes to reference checks and employment verification.
Reference Checks And Employment Verification
Whether you are conducting a reference check or are asked to provide a reference or employment verification, it’s important to have policies and procedures in place to handle these requests.
The following are some do’s and don’ts regarding reference checks and employment verification:
Do’s
- Decide when to conduct reference checks. It is generally considered a best practice to wait until you have extended a conditional offer of employment before conducting reference checks. If your company performs reference checks earlier in the hiring process, make sure you are consistent about the timing and confirm that you can lawfully obtain the information you are requesting before extending an offer. And be sure to know all the things you can base your decision on and cannot base your decision. The truth is, especially in California, there are just some things you will wish you never heard during this process.
- Obtain authorization. Prior to checking a potential employee’s reference, providing a reference for a former employee, or verifying employment of a current employee, obtain and retain written authorization from the individual.
- When seeking a reference: During the hiring process, ask applicants to sign a form authorizing their former employer to disclose job-related information to your company.
- When providing a reference: Some employers choose to obtain a departing employee’s authorization at the time of separation. If a prospective employer contacts you and you don’t have authorization, ask them to have the former employee contact you to give written authorization.
- When verifying employment: If an employee needs an employment verification, the employee should submit a written request that includes an authorization to release the information.
- Decide what information to request. During the hiring process, many employers use reference checks to verify information provided in employment applications, resumes, and interviews. For instance, they may use the reference check to confirm dates of employment, positions held, and final salary or hourly wage. Most employers are willing to disclose this type of information, but may be less inclined to provide information on performance or conduct-related issues.
- Decide what information to provide. When contacted for a job reference, it is considered a best practice to provide only limited information about former employees, such as dates of employment, positions held, and in some cases, final salary or hourly wage. This is generally a preferred approach, since the information is limited to factual and objective data. If you choose to provide more information, make sure you are providing it in good faith; the information is accurate and job-related; and you provide the same types of information about all former employees. Employers should be particularly sensitive to the risks associated with providing a negative reference. Before disclosing any negative job-related information, make sure you have thoroughly documented the issue at the time it occurred. For employment verification, the information provided is generally limited to dates of employment, positions held, and pay history.
- Inform employees what information you will provide. To set proper expectations, let employees know what type of information the company will provide if asked to provide a reference or employment verification. This can be included in a written policy and within authorization forms. Employers may also choose to re-communicate their policy to departing employees.
- Understand state reference check laws. Several states have enacted laws to help protect employers who disclose information about a former employee in good faith. These laws typically define what type of information is protected. Employers should review their state’s law carefully when deciding what information they will provide.
Dont’s
- Don’t request, provide, or use information unrelated to the job. Reference checks for all similarly situated candidates must be subject to the same set of questions, and should only seek job-related information. Never ask for, provide, or use information that is protected by federal, state, or local law. Even if you ask for strictly job-related information, it is possible a former employer may inadvertently disclose protected information (e.g., the individual’s age, national origin, family status, etc.). In these cases, the employer should disregard such information when making a hiring decision.
- Don’t forget to talk to references directly. It is a best practice to contact a reference directly via phone, even if a job candidate provides a letter from the reference. Most employers check at least three references. These should generally be professional references from previous employers. Ideally, the reference should be someone who has directly supervised the employee. On the phone, be sure to verify the reference’s role in relation to the applicant.
- Don’t let just anyone provide a reference. To help ensure consistency, it is a best practice to designate a single individual (such as an HR representative) to handle all reference requests. Supervisors and employees should be instructed to direct all reference inquiries to the designated individual. This person should be trained on providing references in accordance with company policies and federal, state and local laws.
- Don’t forget to comply with FCRA if using a third-party. If you hire another company to perform certain background or reference checks, you must make sure you comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Among other things, the FCRA requires that employers provide written notification to, and obtain authorization from, any individual subject to a background investigation. The FCRA also has very specific guidelines employers must follow when taking adverse action against an individual (e.g., failing to hire) based on the results of the investigation. Several states have their own laws similar to the FCRA so it is important to review applicable state laws to ensure compliance.
- Don’t violate state blacklisting laws. Some states have enacted laws that prohibit employers from “blacklisting” former employees. In other words, these states prohibit employers from intentionally trying to prevent a former employee from obtaining other employment.
For reference checks and employment verification, employers should establish and enforce comprehensive policies and practices that comply with federal, state, and local laws.
Geno is the Owner/Creative Director at Monterey Premier, a web design agency that specializes in Divi and is based out of Monterey, Ca. He is a Divi expert and is known for his Divi tutorials & tips on Quiroz.co and is an excellent source of knowledge for anything related to Divi. Geno is also a Canva expert and helps other Canva users with his tutorials and tips here on the Monterey Premier blog. He has been designing websites since 1996 and enjoys all things design, traveling, hanging out with friends, encouraging other believers, and experimenting with new technologies.
