How to check up on your reference?

[Simeon]

How can a person check on a former employers references?
A colleague has recently left a government post. Is there any way he can check his reference? Their standard way of processing these things is to reply in writing to a prospective employer.

 

[mvron]

Hi,

You could check out dataprotection.ie.
Your friend is entitled under the above to see all information held about them by any organisation. References are not exempt (in general) from an access request.

 

[Complainer]

Hi,

You could check out dataprotection.ie.
Your friend is entitled under the above to see all information held about them by any organisation. References are not exempt (in general) from an access request.

The reference probably doesn't exist, until such time as the new employer asks for it, so there would be nothing for a data protection request to find.