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I am an employer and have been asked to provide a reference for an ex-employee who we sacked for poor performance. What should I put in the reference?
As an employer within a small company, we have been asked to provide a reference for a previous employee who we sacked for poor performance. He subsequently took us to a tribunal claiming dismissal due to disability. This was settled before the tribunal. The reference asks specific questions that, if I answer truthfully, will harm his chances of employment. Reading some information on the net it looks as though declining a request for a reference can land me in trouble with regards previous employees who have made a complaint of this type. Can I write "no comment", or leave blank, the areas of the reference that will generate a problem? Or what would you recommend?
Often in a reference it is better to say as little as possible and stick to facts not opinions.
Write back and say it is your Company Policy to confirm dates of employment and last job title only - and provide this information.
You also mentioned that you settled before a tribunal - did this settlement include an agreed reference? If it did then you should use the wording agreed at that time.
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