Legal Question in Employment Law in Florida
Can an employer give a bad reference?
I was fired yesterday from my job as a waitress, along with one of my co-workers. One of the managers has since taken it upon himself to tell our customers that we were fired. Is he allowed to do that and can he give a bad reference?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Can an employer give a bad reference?
Under Florida law, employers have immunity (as a result of a statutory amendment several years ago) for giving out references unless an employee can prove by clear and convincing evidence that the information communicated to a prospective employer was knowingly false. This standard is difficult, and means that often times employers can communicate quite a bit of negative information. However, please consult with an attorney to obtain more specific information concerning your particular situation.