Any HR people about who know about referencing?

[buybuysellsell]

I have a new job and have resigned from my current one. I am working my notice period, which is six months. I have another role lined up to start in March.

For various reasons I don't particularly want my current boss to know where I am going. Mainly because I think it's none of her business and she has treated me appallingly for the past year. I have decided to leave rather than pursue a grievance. I would like to just move on and she can find out about it on LinkedIn like anyone else.

But new employer needs to start reference checks in December. I am in current role until February.

How does corporate referencing work? I know new employer outsources it to a third party provider - will that provider disclose to my current employer where I am going? Is it likely that the HR team at my current employer will filter the info through to my boss or is it a pure process thing that happens behind the scenes?

If you didn't put your manager as your referee I wouldn't expect the request to go to them but your new employer may not be satisfied with a reference from your HR team if that is who you provided as they are likely to just provide the dates and role you were employed in rather than any implication of your character. I would find out what your HR team typically provide...it isn't uncommon these days for a simplified reference but employers are perfectly entitled to ask for another or third reference if they aren't happy with the details returned to them especially if the role involves working with vulnerable adults or children or handling lots of financial data etc.

Most corporates these days go straight to the HR team and they just give dates and job title, the request doesn't reach the manager.

Thank you @Kaleidoscopic101 - I have already enquired about this and have been provided with the reference they will use. It is very basic and just confirms my job title and dates of employment. This is the standard policy.

I work in financial services so it's very corporate and not a sensitive role.

Thanks @user50and. That's what I'm hoping - that it won't ever reach her desk as she's very senior. But not sure I can bank on it.

Typically your previous employer only finds out who you're going to work for if you tell them. If you have corporate HR they probably do twenty reference requests a day and process them automatically without any time or interest to observe who's going where.