Can I provide a personal reference as their manager

[Heathwood]

Hi folks, I was hoping this would be an easy google answer but I’ve not found anything conclusive.

I manage someone who has asked if I will be a reference in respect of a new external job she’s applying for. My company demands that any employer reference is sent to HR, which is fine, but I’m unclear whether I can provide a personal reference and, if so, whether it needs to be restricted to what I know of this individuals character in a non-work related capacity (which is understandably more limited).

Can anyone confirms the etiquette or legalities?

Thanks for any help.

[edc]

It's not going to be personal if eg:
Headed paper, uses work references, has your job title, states your working relationship, asks about their job skills or experience, sent or received via work email.

[Heathwood]

Yes, thank you, totally agree. It would be distanced from the employers reference, which would be provided separately (and says basically nothing). It would likely be headed by a disclaimer that it was a personal reference and not the opinion of her employer. No headed paper, no job titles, just an honest summary of my view of her personal attributes.

[anonymous-user]

I think you'd be on very shaky ground unless you got specific agreement from the company.

If it walks, looks and sounds like a company reference, then it will likely be seen as a company reference by both your employer and the entity requesting it.

I'm assuming you are trying to do somebody a favour by doing this, but remember the old advice...."no good deed goes unpunished...".

[edc]

You say it will be "distanced" but you not only work at the same place currently but are the manager!

[HappySilver]

Much will depend on what your company policy actually says so there is no one size fits all answer.

You absolutely should not do this on company headed paper or sign off with your job title.

What I have done in similar situations is phone the reference requester and say that policy prevents me from giving a written reference and that they should request one from HR (or that I have passed their request to the appropriate team), however, I hope this will not hinder their application and then go on to gush about them. This will get written down and will achieve the aim of giving them a positive reference without leaving an audit trial that could be used against you by your employer.

[deckster]

Do you have a relationship outside of work? Did you know them before they started working for you? Are they actually a personal friend?

If your employer has gone to the effort of having a specific policy on references I would suggest this is a dangerous road to go down and could easily end up with you having to explain yourself to HR.

[Heathwood]

Thanks all, I have known this individual in both a work capacity and outside of work (albeit the friendship developed in work - and not like that before anyone asks!). I was promoted a number of years back and she has since reported to me. I’m going to err on the side of caution and run it by HR.

[elanfan]

Why not offer to take a call from the bew employer at home?