"If a person you've praised causes some kind of serious damage at the next place they work, that employer could come after you for having 'misled' them by recommending him or her. Even a glowing reference could get you hauled into court, not just negative ones."
"Most companies have a formal policy requiring that any requests for references be handled by HR, and only HR - and even from that quarter, no information is usually forthcoming except dates of employment, titles, and (with the employee's written permission in advance) salary data."
"You can be sued for badmouthing someone to a prospective employer. But either way, you usually get fired, because the company wants to distance itself from you when legal disputes arise over employment references."
When asked to serve as a reference for a colleague, direct the inquiry to the company's human resources department rather than providing personal commentary. Employment references have become legally risky in modern times. Negative references can result in lawsuits for defamation, while positive references can also expose you to legal action if the recommended employee causes damage at their new workplace. Employment attorneys warn that companies often fire employees who become involved in reference-related legal disputes to distance themselves from liability. Most organizations have formal policies restricting references to factual information like employment dates, titles, and salary data only.
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