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Those are all fair. However, I think they are also unethical. If a "reference" contributes anything that gives you cause to pass on a hire they can be successfu
by zerotolerance 11y ago
Those are all fair. However, I think they are also unethical. If a "reference" contributes anything that gives you cause to pass on a hire they can be successfully sued for damages. As I understand it, this liability is the primary reason that most companies no longer let their employees act as references, and instead ask you to direct reference queries to the HR department. If I know that calling a reference and prodding for negative information may result in that person getting into legal trouble, I have a difficult time justifying that act.
- mathattack 11y agoThere are questions that you can ask without getting them in legal trouble. Asking "Would you hire them again?" is a way to do this. Also, the recipient of the call doesn't need to answer anything they don't want. I think the bigger ethical issue is asking references who the candidate hasn't prepped. (You can hurt them if they're interviewing in confidence)
- ectoplasm 11y agoThis doesn't work in the case where the reference is the candidate's former superior and the superior is the kind of person you want to avoid dealing with. I can't have been the only person to deal with manipulative bosses who are sweet at first but turn on you when you assert yourself.