HR tip: Satisfactory references

HRD & Payroll Solutions continues to bring HRZone.co.uk members a range of HR and payroll tips in 2007. A market leader in the provision of HR and Payroll training and nationally recognised professional qualifications, HRD & Payroll Solutions are highly experienced in teaching about common HR and payroll problems. A wide selection of tips, tricks and guidance can be seen below. HRZone.co.uk highly recommends that any tips are taken as a starting point for guidance only.

Question:
"We usually offer jobs subject to our receiving satisfactory references. We have two references on one person that are quite worrying and make us wonder if we would be making a mistake employing him. What is a satisfactory reference and how do you decide?"

HR tip:
You alone, the potential employer, are entitled to determine whether or not a reference is satisfactory, though you must not exercise that right perversely.

Consider contacting the referees again if you feel that you need more facts, though recognise that they are unlikely to be prepared to give you much time. If appropriate, have a further discussion with the candidate. If you do identify problems, consider whether they are short term, whether they can be eliminated by training, and indeed whether they are so important. After all, none of us is perfect!

Be wary of basing your judgement on health issues as you may fall foul of disability discrimination legislation. But if after all this you conclude that the candidate is unsuitable, you are entitled to withdraw the offer of employment.

Previous HR and Payroll tips:

March 2008
Time off for funerals
Redundancy – bumping

February 2008
Companion at informal warning
Advising retirement age employees of their rights
Alcohol on site
Lawful discrimination

January 2008
Reducing company car standard
The disappearing employee
Pre-employment medicals
Monitoring bullying
Controlling absence

2007 tips

2006 tips

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