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The Law At Work
Q. We’re recruiting a new finance director, and I’m checking the references the finalists have listed on their applications. If I know someone at one of the applicants’ former employers, is it okay for me to call the person I know? Or do I have to stick to the list of references?
A. By all means, contact anyone you know who might have firsthand knowledge about an applicant’s performance at another job. There is no legal reason to confine yourself to the listed references. Often, prospective employers get the most candid information if they go above and beyond the references. As a bonus, Alaska law protects good-faith responses to inquiries about job candidates, so former employers have every reason to be honest with you. Above all, congratulations on taking a thorough approach to checking references; you can save yourself and your employer so much time and hassle by spending that time up front.
The employment law hotline is a service AMLJIA offers to our members. Members can call Longenbaugh Law Firm, LLC for a free 30 minute consultation per area of concern. Call the Employment Law Hotline next time you are faced with layoffs, restructuring a department, a discipline problem, or whether or not to terminate an employee. Call the Employment Law Hotline at 1-877-426-5542 before you take action.
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