Is it OK to provide the HR email address for a work reference?

[ginandtonic324]

Hi,

I have a dilemma that is consuming me a the moment.

I don't trust or like my line manager and I think it's mutual. I want to change jobs but I don't even want to ask him if he could be my work reference. I know that because of company policy, he would just pass a reference request to HR, and they will provide only a factual reference.

Would it be OK to just write the hr@.... email address as my work reference, or would that give the impression that something dodgy is going on?

I really don't want to ask him and I would rather avoid providing his name altogether.

I have another work reference, who's a colleague on a higher grade, with whom I've worked closely and she's nice. Could I put her down as my second work reference from my company and avoid my line manager?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Have you got a job offer or are just looking? If the former, do you need to provide referee details at this stage?

No, I have just started looking for a job but I'm just trying to plan ahead, just in case.

The idea of having to ask him to be my referee makes me cringe....

You don't have to ask him. When you get a new job the employer will contact.

Thanks, dantd. Do you mean I can give his name as a referee without telling him first?

Agghh, what if he doesn't do anything or gives a bad reference.

I've worked in places before where all reference requests had to go through HR, therefore I put hr@..... as the email address to contact. Check your current company's policy. If you're expecting someone to act as a referee, it's polite to ask them first, not least so they're expect the reference request if and when it arrives.

Thanks you, Monkey. It's a relief to know that would be OK.

The company policy is that managers are not required or encouraged to give personal references or even comment on your work. They only give factual references. However, if people have a good relationship with their managers, I guess they would be happy to give a more thorough reference and comment on your performance.

However, I don't think that would be my case. My performance has been good according to my appraisals, but he's too small minded to promote people or help them in their careers.

You don't need to put on/forward references on a CV or covering letter until you have an offer. Don't put them on a CV.

Almost everywhere I have worked (big companies and public sector) only provide references via HR. And they state dates of employment and job title only.

Don't put him without asking, obviously, that's impolite, but if your company has a (very common and usual) policy of discouraging managers from writing references, plus you don't think it would be a helpful one, I struggle to see why even contemplate putting him down.

As and when you get an offer, the new employer will ask for contact details for a reference, and at that point you give HR contact details as per the normal policy where you work.

Thank so much everybody for your replies! Greatly appreciated.
No, definitely not putting references on my CV, but I wanted to cover all corners before it actually comes to providing references.

HR email address is fine, most firms just provide a factual reference

I did this recently for a new job in the NHS, I didn't get on with my manager atall previously so gave them the HR email and HR confirmed I worked there and it was all fine!

Thank you, Oly and Spice. It's really reassuring to know.
Spice, good to hear you got a new job! Would be my dream to be in that place one day.