Previous Jobs Not Giving Out References

[Googlenurse, ASN, BSN, RN]

How are employers supposed to evaluate a new candidate if previous employers are not allowed to give out references?

I know most  employers only verify dates of employment nowadays. But nursing jobs also want full in-depth information. They only want previous supervisors to provide the references, so most times you cannot use a coworker.

My previous employer of 12 years just instituted this policy for everyone. Some of the nurses trying to leave are running into trouble getting references. I know these nurses and they have a good work ethic, I think my former employers is using this as a way to retain nurses.  

[Davey Do]

3 hours ago, Googlenurse said:

How are employers supposed to evaluate a new candidate if previous employers are not allowed to give out references?

It can't be done.

3 hours ago, Googlenurse said:

I know most  employers only verify dates of employment nowadays. But nursing jobs also want full in-depth information. They only want previous supervisors to provide the references,so most times you cannot use a coworker.

Yes, go on.

3 hours ago, Googlenurse said:

My previous employer of 12 years just instituted this policy for everyone. Some of the nurses trying to leave are running into trouble getting references. I know these nurses and they have a good work ethic, I think my former employers is using this as a way to retain nurses.  

The cad.

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

They are protecting themselves legally. Probably because someone said something that got them in a little hot water. I think more places are like that than not and other empolyers know that.

[HiddenAngels]

6 hours ago, Googlenurse said:

How are employers supposed to evaluate a new candidate if previous employers are not allowed to give out references?

I know most  employers only verify dates of employment nowadays. But nursing jobs also want full in-depth information. They only want previous supervisors to provide the references,so most times you cannot use a coworker.

My previous employer of 12 years just instituted this policy for everyone. Some of the nurses trying to leave are running into trouble getting references. I know these nurses and they have a good work ethic, I think my former employers is using this as a way to retain nurses.  

What’s the policy?

[HiddenAngels]

I would print out a copy of that policy and have it at the ready. I would also ask the Facilitator or Charge for a reference. Sounds bogus and unethical.

[JBMmom, MSN, NP]

Many places I have worked have this official policy. Most of the time I have gotten around it by finding a coworker that I have a personal relationship with and asking for their non-work related contact information. It may be a blurry line, but if they're being contacted not on work time and not through work channels, they can choose to respond and give their assessment/recommendation. 

I think to some extent references are nice, but not really useful. I've worked with a couple coworkers that I'm honestly surprised didn't kill someone during their time in our unit. Even they were able to find someone willing to give them a reference. One of my friends gave one reference even though she thought the woman was incompetent and her reasoning was "well, if I can't help her get out, she'll stay". So I think most employers know that we find the people we know will say something nice when looking for a reference. 

[sideshowstarlet, BSN, RN]

Do you all kind of take turns being charge where you work? If that's the case, it wouldn't be lying if your coworker reference said they were your charge nurse. After all, they are the charge nurse (I.e., your direct supervisor) sometimes. 

[JKL33]

Very common, as is much of their stupidity. So old.

My former employer asks prospective employees for the very type of references that they themselves won't give out.

It would be tempting to tell prospective employer, "There is a policy against management providing professional references, and I'm not going to ask them to violate the policy."

All of these goofballs still need to find some nurses to hire, so.... ??‍♀️

[HiddenAngels]

4 hours ago, sideshowstarlet said:

Do you all kind of take turns being charge where you work? If that's the case, it wouldn't be lying if your coworker reference said they were your charge nurse. After all, they are the charge nurse (I.e., your direct supervisor) sometimes. 

Yep thats what I would do

[MunoRN, RN]

Many employers expect "professional" references but at the same time have a policy of not giving "professional" references, instead only giving out employment start date and end date, no references.

If you are applying at an employer who expects professional references but at the same time has a policy to not give professional references then you should simply beat the *** out of them.

As a default I would stop just short of actually kliling them, but this is where you should consult an attorney for further clarification.

[mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN]

I thought it was down to: eligible for rehire, not recommend rehire (or something like that-can't think of the right term) and ineligible for rehire. 

[Hoosier_RN, MSN]

Legally, an employer, former or current, can say anything that they wish about you, as long as it is factual:

Reference caller: so does Hoosier miss a lot of work days? 

Employer: reviewing her record, in the last 6 months she has had 16 occurrences, 2 of those were 2 or more days long.

This is totally legal, as long as it's coming directly from the employee record.  The following is not:

That Hoosier, she misses all the time. I don't have access to her attendance record right now, but I know she misses a lot! (Hoosier may have perfect attendance, perhaps HR is thinking about someone else, or dislikes Hoosier)

If it can't be given as objective info, it cannot be given out at all