Working for new company - requesting references

[Conshine]

When a company asks for a reference, legally what questions do / can they ask your previous employer and legally what replies can / cannot be given.

Is it usualy just to confirm start / end dates and to confirm that the person was an employee, their role and leaving salary?

Are questions allowed to be asked on things like sickness record, timekeeping, performance etc?

 

[elcato]

The new company can ask what they want but most companies will only give confirmation that your worked there. I've never heard of anyone divulging a persons salary and I would say that it may well be illegal to answer.