In general, it is inappropriate for a prospective employer to ask questions or a former employer to provide information about an individual's race, color, religion, sex, national or ethnic origin, age, disability status, marital status, sexual orientation, or parenting responsibilities. Former employers who fear potential defamation and slander law suites have become crafty when answering employment reference questions. Another common practices among leery employers is to refuse to give any information about an employee other than dates of employment and title. This is gross disservice to an employee who has dedicated years of faithful service to a company, yet gets no better of a reference then an employee who was fired for embezzlement. Unfortunately, this policy is within the legal rights of an employer provided the policy is an across the board policy that applies to all employees - not just a selected few.
Employment laws vary significantly from state to state.
You should consult an attorney in your state regarding specific legal questions. Get online legal advice from an attorney specialized in employment labor law. Verify the Accuracy of Your Job References. Get a Copy of Your Personal Credit Report.