Reference Request

MariaL

Are companies allowed to request references from your current employer without offering you an interview and not asking your permission?

jenny3549

As far as I am aware there is no legislation that says they can't. It would be fairly bad practice but not illegal.

SandyHood

Had you applied to work for this company?

Do you still want to work for them if they behave in this way?

coojee

I've seen a comment on application forms before where they say that references may be contacted prior to interview so I guess this is their get out clause. If you see this comment then don't use your current employer as a referee unless they know you're leaving.

beckyln

On an application, there should be by way of good practice an option for you to give permission for references to be contacted prior to interview. I have on my CV references available on request and I also put this on my applications. It's never stopped me before to my knowledge.

MariaL

I had applied for quite a few vacancies supplying my CV. They had not mentioned anything about reference request in their job advertisements and I had always thought that references were usually after the interview stage.
I hadn't actually provided any references Coogee, they just took the details from my work history on my CV.
SandyHood no I wouldn't want to work for a business who work in this way as I think it is poor practice.