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Original poster

Reference for work colleague

9 replies

olidora63 · 02/08/2021 15:19

Can someone give me advice regarding writing a reference for a fabulous work colleague. I am not the employer only a colleague and the form is asking me questions as if I am the person who is the employer.
ie confirming date that the person started working ,what their duties were etc and also asking me to reply with official headed note paper from the organisation I work for .
The manager is not aware yet that this person is job hunting so I cannot ask for advice at work.
I have not been asked before to write a reference for a colleague so am not sure what is considered appropriate/ ok from my employers point of view.
Obviously I will make it clear that I am a colleague not employer but am still slightly nervous about doing the wrong thing.
I have absolutely no concerns regarding the person I am referencing and this person really does deserve this job. Any advice from any of you lovely people will be really helpful.

OP posts:
NothingIsWrong · 02/08/2021 15:21

We are not allowed to do this. All references have to go through HR. I write character references for people I used to work with occasionally, but I wouldn't be able to write one for someone who I still worked with if they were moving on.

mynameiscalypso · 02/08/2021 15:26

I have just gone through the process of getting references. At my company, all work-related references are dealt with by HR who confirm dates of employment and role. If an individual wants to give a personal/character reference, they can but it has to be very clearly stated that the reference only relates to their character, that the reference is given in a personal capacity and it cannot reference employment/work at all. It's very strongly discouraged.

maxelly · 02/08/2021 15:31

Yes do check you aren't going to be getting into any trouble with your employer for doing this, very many employers are super, super risk averse re references these days and forbid anyone giving a reference at all and refer all queries to HR who give a 'tombstone' reference only (I personally really disagree with this stance but it's common these days so what can you do).

If you are allowed to, just either fill in the parts of the form you are able to and leave the rest blank, or ignore the form entirely and write out what you want to say in a letter format and email that back instead. Either way make it very clear what you are providing i.e. a character reference only and you are not this person's line manager. They will be able to get confirmation on employment dates etc from HR so shouldn't be an issue. Like I say it's so common for employers to be very cautious with references these days I'd be surprised if it causes your colleague any issues...

BuffySummersReportingforSanity · 02/08/2021 15:36

I would not do it at all. Most orgs have a policy of all reference requests being forwarded straight to HR for response.

Absolutely the only way I would give a reference would be verbally and making it very clear that I did so in a private and personal capacity. Usually formal references are only requested after an offer has been confirmed anyway.

Original poster
olidora63 · 02/08/2021 15:46

Thank you for the replies.Am glad I asked for advice. I shall speak to the colleague who wants the reference and explain the potential problem…so difficult that I cannot ask for advice at work .
I shall explain that it can only be a character reference which is what I had I had agreed to .

OP posts:
YeDancer · 02/08/2021 17:42

Don't do it. You could get disciplined and/or even lose your job.

Your colleague could have a disciplinary offence on their record that you don't know about, hence why they are coming to you for the reference and not the manager or HR.

So they could be misleading their potential employer and putting your job at risk.

Don't fill out any parts of it - send the whole form to your manager or HR.

Tell your colleague you can't do it because its asking specific information that you cannot provide and you'd be breaking company policy.

Its a bit of a stupid question to be asking us TBH.

Original poster
olidora63 · 02/08/2021 18:28

@YeDancer

Don't do it. You could get disciplined and/or even lose your job.

Your colleague could have a disciplinary offence on their record that you don't know about, hence why they are coming to you for the reference and not the manager or HR.

So they could be misleading their potential employer and putting your job at risk.

Don't fill out any parts of it - send the whole form to your manager or HR.

Tell your colleague you can't do it because its asking specific information that you cannot provide and you'd be breaking company policy.

Its a bit of a stupid question to be asking us TBH.

Crikey what a nasty reply!! Was asking a genuine question because I have never been asked to write a reference before.Am actually questioning what you got out of replying to my post! You obviously hadn’t read my last post,thanking people for their replies.
OP posts:
flowery · 02/08/2021 21:37

Just tell your friend you are not authorised to give a reference on behalf of the company but if the potential employer is interested in a character reference from you as a private individual, you’ll be happy to provide it.

Original poster
olidora63 · 02/08/2021 23:22

@floweryThank you .Have now been chatting with friend who wants a reference! Friend has also ,like me understands why I cannot write reference …so all good. We have both been in the same job for ages so we are not up to speed with the rules for referencing!! @YeDancer please take note 😊

OP posts:
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