Providing references

New and updated

• Type:

  Training

  References quiz - line manager training

  A quiz for line managers to test their knowledge on providing and requesting references.

• Type:

  Employment law cases

  Case round-up

  Annabel Mackay, managing associate at Addleshaw Goddard, detail the latest rulings.

• Type:

  Employment law cases

  Case round-up

  Richard Ryan, associate, Helen Ward, associate, and Tori O'Neil, trainee solicitor, Addleshaw Goddard, detail the latest rulings.

• Type:

  Employment law cases

  Case round-up: References

  This week's case round-up from Eversheds, covering references.

• Date:

  1 February 2002

  Type:

  Employment law cases

  Legal & General Assurance Ltd v Kirk

  In Legal & General Assurance Ltd v Kirk [2002] IRLR 124 CA, the Court of Appeal held that a case based on negligent misstatement must involve a statement, such as a reference, to a third party. It ruled that the duty to take reasonable care in preparing references does not extend to cover a situation in which no negligent reference has in fact been given.

• Date:

  1 July 2001

  Type:

  Employment law cases

  References: Reference giver's duty of care where employee left while suspected of dishonesty

  In Cox v Sun Alliance Life Ltd, the Court of Appeal holds that an employer was, through one of its employees, in breach of its duty to take reasonable care to provide an accurate and fair reference for a former employee, who resigned before the employer had completed pending disciplinary proceedings involving investigations into allegations of misconduct.

• Type:

  FAQs

  How should an employer approach providing a reference where the employment ended during unresolved disciplinary proceedings?

• Date:

  1 May 2000

  Type:

  Employment law cases

  Kidd v Axa Equity & Law Life Assurance Society plc and another

  In Kidd v Axa Equity & Law Life Assurance Society plc and another [2000] IRLR 301 HC, the High Court held that the duty of care in respect of the provision of references extends to taking reasonable care not to give misleading information.

• Date:

  15 July 1999

  Type:

  Employment law cases

  References: No breach of duty of care in giving reference mentioning unproven misconduct charge

  An employer did not act in breach of its common law duty of care in providing a reference for a former employee which stated that, when he had taken voluntary severance, he was suspended from work because of a charge of gross misconduct, but that disciplinary proceedings had lapsed automatically when his employment terminated, holds the Court of Appeal in Bartholomew v London Borough of Hackney.

• Date:

  1 September 1994

  Type:

  Employment law cases

  Negligence: Duty of care owed to subject of reference

  An employer giving a reference is under a duty to the subject of the reference to take reasonable care in compiling it, or in obtaining the information on which it is based, holds the House of Lords in Spring v Guardian Assurance plc and others.