Can I ask this of HR?

[Lemons1571]

If I get a conditional offer of a new role with a different company, I will need to give them my current employers HR email address, so the new employer can ask for a reference for me. Pretty usual so far.

Would it be ok to ask my current employers HR department, not to tell my current line managers that they’ve been approached for and supplied a basic reference? I don’t want my line managers to know anything until I’ve got an unconditional offer from the new employer. At which point I will resign. I won’t get the unconditional offer until the new employer has my references.

I’ve not got any blemishes on my HR record, apart from some sick leave. But I just don’t trust my current line managers. It’s a run of the mill medium sized company.

I did this, I had to tell HR because I needed a reference, proof of salary etc. but I asked them not to tell my line manager, etc. until I had the contract.

Yes that’s fine. Ps nowadays most references will just confirm you worked there in your role for whatever dates. Wouldn’t worry about the sick leave