Has anyone else dealt with managerial restrictions on granting references?

[Writer]

Mr. Writer's recruiter is trying to set him up with an interview, but the company in question is asking for a managerial reference. Unfortunately, while Mr. Writer could provide two or three managerial references, the two companies in question do not permit their management to offer references (for fear of litigation.)

Is there any way around this? He has no one he can use that is not currently a manager. He has plenty of coworkers giving references to his technical skills, but no managers who can vouch for him legally.

[pitohui]

1. this is standard and no one else competing for the job will have the references either

it makes you wonder why recruiters continue to ask for what is no longer allowed to be given

[Writer]

2. It's actually the company to which he's applying...

yeah, I find it silly.

[kay1864]

5. "Standard"? "no longer allowed"? Au contraire.

Just a few months ago I got references from managers from two former companies.

Writer, perhaps the recruiter can get phone references (ie conversations) from the managers rather than written ones. The recruiter can then offer the references in a letter to your husband's prospective company.

If it makes the former managers more comfortable, the recruiter can agree not to use his/her name. Your husband's new company really shouldn't care if the name is on there or not.

If I were the hiring manager, I wouldn't care--as long as I thought the recruiter was legit (and I probably wouldn't be working with them if I didn't).

[madinmaryland]

3. Strange, but I haven;'t been asked for references in my last four jobs.

1994, 1996, 2001, and 2004. Another firm that offered me a job also did not ask for references. I don't recall what the one in 1985 did, though one in 1983 did, but it was my first job out of college.

Funnily though, when I went for professional certification a couple of years ago, I was asked for references.

:shrug:

[Writer]

4. It's happened for his job hunt last year and this year...

so perhaps it's his field.

[crimsonblue]

6. litigation?

please do explain more...

[Writer]

7. Companies are afraid of getting sued by giving bad references to other employers.

[Critters2]

8. Or giving good references for someone who causes the new employer problems. nt

[hellbound-liberal]

9. As a manager in foodservice as well as the retail industry, I was only allowed to provide

the former employee's dates of employment, whether or not they gave notice prior to leaving and whether or not they were eligible for rehire. I imagine there are similar restrictions on managerial references.

[triguy46]

10. I'm an administrator who has to deal with this...

There is no right to a reference, nor is there a legal requirement to provide one. Name, rank, time on job is all they will get from our organization. If asked "Is he/she eligible for rehire?" I answer, "Anyone is eligible to apply for open positions, but hiring is based on the assessment of the manager in accordance with hiring guidelines/regulations."

In actuality, if the requestor is really a good person, good employee, leaving on good terms, usually you will get it.

A way around this? Prob not.