Are Employers Required to Give References?
No, there is no law compelling an employer to provide a reference. As an institution covered by the open records law, however, certain records must be released if requested. Personal references should be treated in much the same manner as professional references. Department heads may choose to communicate with their employees that only designated personnel can provide professional references on behalf of the department; and stress that if any other employees provide a reference, they must distinguish it as a personal reference.
