Request For Employer Reference

The Request for Employer Reference is to be used when writing to a referee nominated by a job applicant.

The letter asks the referee to confirm the applicant’s dates of employment and suitability for the new role. It also asks the referee about the applicant’s disciplinary record and reason for leaving.

Requesting a reference involves processing personal data under the UK GDPR. Employers must ensure that they have a legal basis for processing data and, in this context, the most likely basis is that the employee has consented to process the data. This is because the employee is likely to have a genuine choice about whether or not to consent to data processing for employment reference purposes. If the employer makes use of the Simply-Docs Exit Interview Form when the employee leaves the role, that form expressly asks for the employee’s consent to take up references. There is also a separate form for the employee to give consent for work references to be provided to a future employer. This letter provides for a signed consent form to be sent to the former employer.

Reference requests and references should be marked ‘confidential’ and ‘addressee only’.

It is safest not to ask questions about health at all but, if necessary, employers should ensure that they do not ask questions relating to health or disability until a job offer has been made.

This Request for Employer Reference letter template is in open format. Either enter the requisite details in the highlighted fields or adjust the wording to suit your purposes.

Request For Employer Reference is part of Employment Documents. Just £35.00 + VAT provides unlimited downloads from Employment Documents for 1 year.