Any HR Experts who can answer a quick question please?

[Jabee]

Hi Ladies,

I am wondering if there are any HR experts here who can answer a question for me please?

I have recently returned to work on a phased return after being signed off for 5 weeks due to work related stress.

I have decided my health has to come first and I need to look for another job.

When my company is asked for a reference would anyone know if they will tell the new company I have been off for 5 weeks & if this may then result in an offer being retracted? I seem to remember there are very strict rules around what can & can't go into a reference but can't remember the specifics.

Thankyou!

J x

[ellenholmes]

Companies aren't allowed to bad references and I think that they aren't allowed to discuss anything with anyone else without written consent. When I had been off for a while at my previous in employers they wanted to contact my doctor and had to get me to sign a form to confirm they could. Usually when companies go for references they usually send a set questionnaire

[Hols969]

I think it depends on what they ask to be honest. I think if they specifically ask if you have had sick days in the last year then your employers can answer. If they are just asking for a general reference tho then as ellen says, they arent allowed to do bad references (which sort of defeats the object I think as the new employer will never quite know how good you are, which is frustrating if you are!!)