May I give a job reference or letter of recommendation for a student employee whose employment records are considered education records?
Yes you may, as long as you remember that such things as performance evaluations, records of attendance, salary information, and other HR records are protected information and cannot be released without written consent from the student. You may however, provide information based on your personal observation and knowledge without a written release. For example, without referencing the student’s employment record you might say, “She was reliable and well-liked, and always had a positive attitude.” Without a written release you cannot say, “Her last performance rating was ‘needs improvement’, and she had 20 unexcused absences.” It is recognized that the line distinguishing protected employment records from information based on personal observation and knowledge can be blurry. For that reason, it is recommended that you ask all student employees who ask you for a job reference or letter of recommendation to sign a written consent allowing you to release all information related to their emp
Related Questions
- May I give a job reference or letter of recommendation for a student employee whose employment records are considered education records?
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