Legal Question in Business Law in New York

As a precondition to your interview, you probably signed forms stating that the prospective employer has the option and authorization to contact your present employer for information about your work ethic, responsibilities, title, etc. Unless you specifically deter such action in writing or by failure to sign an authorization to allow investigative efforts, they can dig deep as far as they deem necessary. In either case, I would contact the interviewer and ask specifically why such action was taken without informing you, as a matter of courtesy, during the interview. They had better be very serious about hiring you, otherwise, I consider their action as inconsiderate at best.