Small aside following on from how the discussion has went after the OP's post...
I once worked in a very large (think, national, 1000s of employees) company, did an amazing job for them, stayed 5 years, and received many a personal email asking me saying what a cracking job I'd done and how I'd really done well with the limitations my dept had e.g. from senior management.
I then went to work in a much smaller team outside of my normal industry (but still within the same role - think accountant in a large retail chain vs. accountant in a 3-branch chain of local accountancy practice, that sort of thing).
And lo and behold, almost got my "subject to satisfactory references" job offer withdrawn, because the reference they got back apparently stated something like:
"Miss Reindeer worked here from X to Y. The reason for her leaving was resignation. Signed, Joe Bloggs."
... and they assumed there was some story that I wasn't telling them 
Apparently the office manager at my new place hadn't ever received such a straightforward reference before for that level of position in the company, good job they contacted me to ask what the deal was.
In the end I had to get my HR contact at the old employer to send a small note explaining that it was company policy to NEVER give out personal references, and the XY date thing was the only thing they were allowed to send out, and wasn't a reflection of me specifically.
It was especially galling to think that, had I been a crap employee (but not crap enough to get fired) i'd have still got the same two lines written about me. talk about a kick in the teeth after all my hard work 
Now that I have a bit more experience of different employers, I realise it isn't really that unique, but I did feel aggrieved for a couple of years after!