{"id":15600,"date":"2025-10-10T08:15:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-10T08:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/uk\/?post_type=resources&#038;p=15600"},"modified":"2026-06-23T10:56:47","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T10:56:47","slug":"providing-employment-references","status":"publish","type":"resources","link":"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/uk\/resources\/talent-management\/performance-management\/managing-performance\/providing-employment-references\/","title":{"rendered":"Providing employment references"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-primary-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-b5fc8583 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:25px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-7fc3d43a wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:70%\">\n<p class=\"\">By <strong><strong>Max Winthrop<\/strong><\/strong> | Brightmine editor: <strong>Lilia Dangi<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">This guide sets out the legal position on providing employment references, including the content and format of a reference; the level of detail to include in a reference; what information should not be included in a reference; and the employer&#8217;s data protection obligations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sign up today to get:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">No strict legal requirement to provide reference\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">Exceptions where providing reference is expected or required<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">References policy\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">Refusing to provide reference<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Reference content and format\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">Duty to employee<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Duty to future employer<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Basic or detailed reference?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Sector-specific requirements<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Agreed reference wording<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Personal or sensitive information<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Limited liability disclaimer\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">Negative or misleading references<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Specific scenarios\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">Former colleague requests personal email from employee<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Current or former employee requests to see reference<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Data protection obligations\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">Consent<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Other legal grounds<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Privacy notices and policies<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Remedies and penalties\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">Discrimination<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Victimisation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Defamation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Malicious falsehood<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Negligent misstatement<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Breach of contract<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Claims by prospective employers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"\">Future developments<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Want to see more?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">For full access to Providing references, sign up to a HR and Compliance Centre subscription today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"\/uk\/quote\/?intcmp=hrcc-migrated-resource|quote|request-a-quote\" style=\"border-radius:25px\">Request a quote<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column lnrs-hide-block-on-mobile is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-left-color:var(--wp--preset--color--secondary-gray);border-left-width:2px;padding-left:10px;flex-basis:30%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained wp-container-2 is-position-sticky\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-secondary-gray-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-0b691c38 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:1rem;padding-top:15px;padding-right:15px;padding-bottom:15px;padding-left:15px\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Latest updates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Overhauled and enhanced to provide a more practical and accessible overview for employers and HR professionals.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-bleach-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-a36fa716 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:14px;padding-top:10px;padding-right:15px;padding-bottom:15px;padding-left:15px\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Navigate HR complexity with confidence<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">With Brightmine, you can build powerful people strategies, implement best practices and set your organisation up for a brighter future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Learn how our tools, resources and automation can empower you and your team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"\/uk\/solutions\/?intcmp=cta|blog|solutions|learn-more\" style=\"border-radius:25px\">Learn more<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group lnrs-hide-block-on-mobile has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-ad1af2a0 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0\">\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-secondary-gray-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-secondary-gray-background-color has-background\" style=\"margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Read more articles:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-query is-layout-flow wp-block-query-is-layout-flow\"><ul class=\"wp-block-post-template is-layout-flow wp-container-core-post-template-is-layout-ea1fff98 wp-block-post-template-is-layout-flow\"><li class=\"wp-block-post post-18349 resources type-resources status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry category-blogs topic-pay-transparency\">\n<h2 style=\"font-size:clamp(14px, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 0.274), 16px);line-height:1.3;text-decoration:underline; margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;\" class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-0b1b36f3c2dfa7682bfd13b67e3228a9 wp-block-post-title has-text-color has-primary-black-color\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/uk\/resources\/hr-compliance\/pay-transparency\/the-ripple-effect-of-pay-transparency\/\" target=\"_self\" >The ripple effect of pay transparency on reward decisions and equity<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-18346 resources type-resources status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry category-whitepapers topic-pay-equity\">\n<h2 style=\"font-size:clamp(14px, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 0.274), 16px);line-height:1.3;text-decoration:underline; margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;\" class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-0b1b36f3c2dfa7682bfd13b67e3228a9 wp-block-post-title has-text-color has-primary-black-color\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/uk\/resources\/total-rewards\/pay-equity\/four-gaps-to-close-before-your-next-pay-gap-report\/\" target=\"_self\" >Four gaps to close before your next pay gap report<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-18353 resources type-resources status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry category-c-and-i\">\n<h2 style=\"font-size:clamp(14px, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 0.274), 16px);line-height:1.3;text-decoration:underline; margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px;margin-left:0;margin-right:0;\" class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-0b1b36f3c2dfa7682bfd13b67e3228a9 wp-block-post-title has-text-color has-primary-black-color\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/uk\/resources\/practical-action-over-performativity-reforming-your-pride-efforts\/\" target=\"_self\" >Practical action over performativity:\u00a0Reforming\u00a0your\u00a0Pride efforts<\/a><\/h2>\n<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-primary-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-4b7a3f7f wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:25px;margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">You may also be interested in&#8230;<\/h2>\n\n\n<section id=\"resources-search-filter\" class=\"wp-elements-3d5a36a15ad59985ca7cce3f17b3f43f wp-block-brightmine-resources-filter has-text-color has-primary-black-color has-background has-primary-white-background-color\">\n\n\n<div class=\"ajax-filter\">\n<div class=\"lnrs-resources-search-filter  editor-posts-filtered-topics \">\n\t\t<div class=\"search_terms_bottom\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"bottom_left\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"search_terms_result_count\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"bottom_right\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"loader-container\">\n\t\t<span class=\"loader\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/span>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-filter-widget__container\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__resource\" style=\"background-color: #f3f2f0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/uk\/resources\/talent-management\/talent-acquisition\/recruitment\/recruitment-policy\/\"><div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__resource_image\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/11171019\/person-holding-eyeglasses-smiling-at-desk.webp);\"><\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__inner_content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"content-top\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__categories\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__category\">Tools &amp; templates<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"title\" style=\"color: #00728B\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/uk\/resources\/talent-management\/talent-acquisition\/recruitment\/recruitment-policy\/\">Recruitment policy<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"color: #000000\">This model policy sets out an organisation\u2019s approach to recruitment, including attracting candidates, selection processes and ensuring fair &#8230;<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__resource\" style=\"background-color: #f3f2f0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/uk\/resources\/talent-management\/talent-acquisition\/recruitment\/why-use-an-assessment-centre\/\"><div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__resource_image\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/29135825\/person-working-on-laptop-in-bright-office.webp);\"><\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__inner_content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"content-top\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__categories\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__category\">Guides &#8211; How to<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"title\" style=\"color: #00728B\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/uk\/resources\/talent-management\/talent-acquisition\/recruitment\/why-use-an-assessment-centre\/\">Why use an assessment centre for recruitment?<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"color: #000000\">Learn why employers use assessment centres in recruitment, with insights on structured testing, better hiring decisions and evaluating &#8230;<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__resource\" style=\"background-color: #f3f2f0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/uk\/resources\/hr-compliance\/contract-of-employment\/pregnant-employees-on-fixed-term-contracts\/\"><div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__resource_image\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/16174303\/feature-pregnant-woman-reading-redundancy-protections-laptop-1200x627px.webp);\"><\/div><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__inner_content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"content-top\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__categories\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"lnrs-resource-hub-widget__category\">Guides &#8211; How to<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"title\" style=\"color: #00728B\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightmine.com\/uk\/resources\/hr-compliance\/contract-of-employment\/pregnant-employees-on-fixed-term-contracts\/\">Managing Pregnancy and Maternity Rights for Employees on Fixed\u2011Term Contracts<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"color: #000000\">Understand employer obligations for pregnant fixed\u2011term employees, from avoiding discrimination to providing statutory maternity leave, pay entitlements, and &#8230;<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-primary-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fcdab8bb wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:25px;margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<p style=\"font-size:clamp(16.834px, 1.052rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 1.256), 26px);\" class=\"\">About the authors<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-658170e2 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100px\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized has-custom-border is-style-rounded\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"128\" height=\"128\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/03\/12085308\/Brightmine_Favicon_128px.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-313\" style=\"border-top-left-radius:500px;border-top-right-radius:500px;border-bottom-left-radius:500px;border-bottom-right-radius:500px;object-fit:cover;width:100px;height:100px\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"\"><strong>Max Winthrop<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Max Winthrop is a partner at Sintons LLP. Noted by both Chambers Guide to the Legal Profession and the Legal 500 as a leading practitioner in employment law, Max regularly appears in tribunals up and down the country as well as in the appeal courts. Max has lectured in employment law at Durham University and he was the chair of the Law Society&#8217;s influential Employment Law Committee from 2017-2020. As chair, he has been actively involved in employment law developments, including giving evidence to parliamentary committees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Max is regularly quoted in national publications such as the Times and the Financial Times, and he has appeared on BBC Radio 4 and LBC as well as BBC and Channel 5 TV.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-primary-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-830ea00fb5b396364f854535b04601c2\">Max is a member of ELA, the Industrial Law Society, and is secretary of the Newcastle Employment Tribunal Users Group.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-cararra-gray-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-cararra-gray-background-color has-background is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100px\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized is-style-rounded\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/22152956\/Lilia-Headshot.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-17647\" style=\"object-fit:cover;width:100px;height:100px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/22152956\/Lilia-Headshot.jpg 800w, https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/22152956\/Lilia-Headshot-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/22152956\/Lilia-Headshot-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/22152956\/Lilia-Headshot-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.brightmine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/22152956\/Lilia-Headshot-450x450.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"\"><strong>Lilia Dangi<\/strong><br>Legal Editor, Brightmine<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Lilia joined the Employment Law and Compliance team as a Legal Editor in March 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Lilia has over 10 years&#8217; experience in HR, with a strong background in employment law, compliance, and governance. She has worked across major organisations including Deloitte, Santander, and Unilever, advising on complex employee relations matters, immigration and change management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Lilia also brings experience as a CIPD tutor, delivering modules on employment law and workforce planning. She holds a Law degree, a Law Masters in Corporate Governance, and is a certified Company Secretary and CIPD Associate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Connect with Lilia on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/liliadangi\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">LinkedIn<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-primary-white-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-0fd240ca wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" id=\"newsletter\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-large-font-size\">Sign up to receive expert HR insights from Brightmine<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained 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