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Bosses face references gag
Britain's bosses have been virtually gagged by a number of laws that prevent them from writing accurate but unflattering job references, a leading employment lawyer has claimed.
Fear of being dragged before a court or employment tribunal has compelled many to restrict references to factual lists of dates and job titles, with no mention of the employee's performance and ability.
Employers are often caught on the horns of dilemma - to tell the truth and face a legal claim or keep quiet and risk inflicting a problem worker onto another company. Although previous employers are not obliged to provide references, future employers might infer from any refusal - perhaps wrongly - that the applicant has a blot on his or her record.
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Download: Guidance from the ACAS website