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ARTICLE · 07 AUGUST 2019

Truth Or Lies: Providing Employment References

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Are you one of the growing numbers of Canadian employers who are reluctant to provide employment references for former employees?

CanadaEmployment and HR
Mary Lou Brady
Mary Lou Brady
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Are you one of the growing numbers of Canadian employers who are reluctant to provide employment references for former employees? Concerned you are going to be sued by a former employee for defamation if your reference is not positive enough? Concerned that you are going to be sued for misrepresentation by the employer who hires a former employee if things don't jive with the reference you provide?

What is Considered to be an Employment Reference?

An employment reference is not the same thing as a confirmation of employment (aka letter of employment/service). The latter generally only confirms such things as length of service, positions held, and key duties or responsibilities in such positions. I refer to this as providing "name, rank and serial number".

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