How Do You Avoid A Potential Lawsuit When Giving References?
Job applications often use negative references by former supervisors or managers as the reason for not getting hired, and these complaints have potential to result in a defamation lawsuit. Understandably, some employers are hesitant to provide references for this reason, but there are easy ways to reduce the risk of litigation. Get consent from all employees to discuss their employment with your company to future employers. Many companies require all potential employees to sign a authorization form when applying for a position. This policy, if strictly followed, is a good way to avoid a defamation lawsuit. Keep personnel files accurate and confidential, and be sure that they include only objective information about employees. Personnel files are often used as the primary source of information for references. Therefore, it’s extremely important that only factual and verifiable information is included. Any negative information should be verified by the employee’s supervisor and should re
