Current employer (of 12 years) asking now for references from previous job

General_Grant

Re retention of records of employment - GDPR would suggest that keeping these as long as 12 years after the termination of employment is too long, six years being the better number.

74jax

Throwaway1 said:

Hi, the school I work at has sent out an email saying that they are completing a HR compliance exercise and that they may be asking people for information. 

Does this seem normal to ask for such historic data after employees have been working for the school for so long? Can/should the employees refuse to hand it over? Some ignored the original request and has since had emails stating 'URGENT - you must send this information by X date (next few days).' Nothing was said about what would happen if the information requested wasn't sent over.

Ignoring other people's requirements to supply information, what have you been asked for, are you able to supply it? 

Throwaway1

74jax said:

Throwaway1 said:

Hi, the school I work at has sent out an email saying that they are completing a HR compliance exercise and that they may be asking people for information. 

Does this seem normal to ask for such historic data after employees have been working for the school for so long? Can/should the employees refuse to hand it over? Some ignored the original request and has since had emails stating 'URGENT - you must send this information by X date (next few days).' Nothing was said about what would happen if the information requested wasn't sent over.

Ignoring other people's requirements to supply information, what have you been asked for, are you able to supply it? 

I haven’t been asked for anything yet. I don’t know if that’s because I haven’t got any gaps or because they haven’t got around to my files yet.

Throwaway1

Thanks, everyone. I guess I’m being too sceptical if no one else thinks it is a problem. I’d just honestly never heard of an employer asking someone who had been working somewhere for over a decade for a reference, or to explain a 2 month gap from nearly 30 years ago. I’d expect it at the job offer stage but I didn’t know they even could ask for that after they’d employed someone with no problems for that amount of time. (Well, I suppose I knew they could *ask* but I’m not sure what they could do with the information now - provided it was nothing illegal. It’s a bit late to rescind the job offer).

comeandgo

Throwaway1 said:

Thanks, everyone. I guess I’m being too sceptical if no one else thinks it is a problem. I’d just honestly never heard of an employer asking someone who had been working somewhere for over a decade for a reference, or to explain a 2 month gap from nearly 30 years ago. I’d expect it at the job offer stage but I didn’t know they even could ask for that after they’d employed someone with no problems for that amount of time. (Well, I suppose I knew they could *ask* but I’m not sure what they could do with the information now - provided it was nothing illegal. It’s a bit late to rescind the job offer).

If at interview employee alleged they had degrees or experience of certification which was false then they could be sacked.

Savvy_Sue

comeandgo said:

Throwaway1 said:

Thanks, everyone. I guess I’m being too sceptical if no one else thinks it is a problem. I’d just honestly never heard of an employer asking someone who had been working somewhere for over a decade for a reference, or to explain a 2 month gap from nearly 30 years ago. I’d expect it at the job offer stage but I didn’t know they even could ask for that after they’d employed someone with no problems for that amount of time. (Well, I suppose I knew they could *ask* but I’m not sure what they could do with the information now - provided it was nothing illegal. It’s a bit late to rescind the job offer).

If at interview employee alleged they had degrees or experience of certification which was false then they could be sacked.

And that could happen if the deception was discovered after 30 days or 30 years. 

in_my_wellies

It's normal
About 75% of the staff at the school I worked at were asked to provide detailed information. Most of us were asked to provide original proof of teaching qualifications. This included the head teacher. I was 54 and I'd taught at 4 schools and this was the first time I'd ever been asked, this was the same for most of the staff. 

Ath_Wat

Throwaway1 said:

Thanks, everyone. I guess I’m being too sceptical if no one else thinks it is a problem. I’d just honestly never heard of an employer asking someone who had been working somewhere for over a decade for a reference, or to explain a 2 month gap from nearly 30 years ago. I’d expect it at the job offer stage but I didn’t know they even could ask for that after they’d employed someone with no problems for that amount of time. (Well, I suppose I knew they could *ask* but I’m not sure what they could do with the information now - provided it was nothing illegal. It’s a bit late to rescind the job offer).

I think the problem is you and your co-workers, like many people, have a false idea of what a reference generally is, particularly in this situation.  It's not, generally "John is a great guy and a hard worker; I thoroughly recommend you employ him!".  It's "John Smith worked here as a widget-maker according to our records from April 2014 to March 2018.  There are no issues on file."  

You don't need named contacts, or "people to be your references", you all just need to provide the company names and addresses of whoever employed you and let your current employer do the rest.

If you bear that in mind it looks much more straightforward and sensible.  There is no danger unless someone has been lying to cover up the fact they were in prison, or got sacked for theft.

prowla

Savvy_Sue said:

And anyone struggling to provide the information requested would do better to consult their union rather than a random selection of people on t'internet. 

So basically don't come here to ask questions.

prowla

The reference address should be that of the old employer's HR department; it may be that they forbid individuals from giving references in the company's name.