8 min read

Mastering Legal Questions: A Reference Check Guide for Employers

Reference checks are a crucial part of the hiring process, but it's important to be aware of the legal restrictions around the questions you can ask. To conduct reference checks legally and effectively, you should follow these guidelines to obtain valuable insights while avoiding any potential legal issues.

Reference checks are a vital part of the hiring process. They provide valuable insights into a candidate's work history, performance, and potential fit within your organization. However, it's important to be aware of the legal restrictions around the questions you can ask during reference checks.

When contacting a candidate's previous employer, you should limit your questions to job-related inquiries only. For instance, you may ask about the candidate's job responsibilities, their performance, their attendance and punctuality, and their communication skills. You should avoid asking questions that could be construed as discriminatory.

When conducting a reference check, it's important to remain objective and document your findings. Take detailed notes on the information provided by the reference, and use this information to make an informed hiring decision.

Here are some guidelines to help you conduct reference checks legally and effectively:

1. Confirm basic information: It's legal to ask for basic information such as dates of employment, job title, and salary. These details can help you verify the candidate's work history and ensure that their resume is accurate.

2. Performance-related questions: When asking performance-related questions, it's important to keep the questions job-related and relevant to the position being filled. This means focusing on the specific skills and abilities required for the job, so you can gather valuable insights into the candidate's performance and suitability for the position.

3. Avoid discrimination: Asking questions related to race, gender, age, religion, disability, or any protected status is illegal and can result in a discrimination lawsuit. Be sure to focus on job-related skills and qualifications and avoid asking any personal questions that are not related to the job.

4. Obtain consent: Always obtain consent from the candidate before conducting a reference check. This can be in the form of a signed release form or an email granting permission.

5. Protect candidate privacy: Be mindful of the candidate's privacy and only share information on a need-to-know basis. Avoid discussing personal details that are not relevant to the job and ensure that any information you share is kept confidential.

6. Use a standardized process: To ensure consistency and fairness, it's a good practice to use a standardized reference checking process for all candidates. This can help ensure that you ask the same questions for each candidate and avoid any potential bias.

Here are some of the questions that employers can legally ask during reference checks:

1. Can you confirm the candidate's employment details and job title?

This question helps verify that the candidate has worked in the organization and their job title matches their application.

2. What were the candidate's job responsibilities?

This question helps to get an understanding of the candidate's skills, knowledge, and abilities required for the position they have applied for.

3. How would you rate the candidate's job performance?

This question helps to gauge the candidate's work ethic, attitude, and ability to work independently and as part of a team.

4. Did the candidate have any attendance or punctuality issues?

This question helps to identify any potential issues that might impact the candidate's job performance.

5. Why did the candidate leave the organization?

This question helps to get an insight into the candidate's reasons for leaving the previous organization and identify any potential issues that might arise in the new job.

6. Would you rehire the candidate if given the chance?

This question helps to understand if the candidate is eligible for rehire and if there were any issues or concerns during their previous employment.

7. Is there anything else we should know about the candidate?

This question helps to get any additional information that the reference thinks is relevant to the job.

To avoid any legal issues, employers need to have a clear understanding of the laws and regulations related to reference checks. They need to be mindful of the questions they ask and ensure that the references are genuine and relevant to the job.

In conclusion, reference checks can provide valuable insights into a candidate's work history and performance. However, it's important to be aware of the legal restrictions around the questions you can ask during reference checks. By following these guidelines, you can conduct reference checks legally and effectively while protecting the candidate's privacy and avoiding any potential discrimination.

‍