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Employment references - what value are they?

Jacqueline Burnett

HI,

We issue approx 300 new contracts a month and generally request 2 references per new hire.  However, the response rate is only 19%, many references are factual only stating only the dates of employment.  6% of the 19% that responded were poor references. We have a 6 month probationary period where poor performers / attitude issues can be weeded out.

When considering how we could automate the reference process, we began to question the value of obtainng references versus the administrative chore it entails.  As I understand it, there is no legal reason in our business why we would have to obtain employment references. 

Interested to hear your views please.  Sounds couter intuitive but ..

Do you think references are necessary / provide valuable information?

Would you conisder not requesting references at all?

Is the administrative element justified when considering the value of the information gleaned?

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  • Hi Jacqueline, I agree it is an administrative  chore and based on the information usually received, eg; Dates of service and job title it doesn't really tell us anything about the candidate/new employee.  The probationary period as you say helps to identify any poor performers providing there is a  robust process that hiring managers follow, we all have those " I want to get rid of them" managers after HR have agreed to perm employment with the individual!!! Character references would be better however, employers are reluctant to offer these.

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  • Hi Jacqueline, I agree it is an administrative  chore and based on the information usually received, eg; Dates of service and job title it doesn't really tell us anything about the candidate/new employee.  The probationary period as you say helps to identify any poor performers providing there is a  robust process that hiring managers follow, we all have those " I want to get rid of them" managers after HR have agreed to perm employment with the individual!!! Character references would be better however, employers are reluctant to offer these.

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