In recent years, reference check letters have become an integral part of the interviewing and hiring process. Many employers are now taking a harder look at organizational security and safety and are concentrating more resources on pre-employment background checks, including careful checking of references. In the past, reference checking took a back seat in the hiring process with companies’ often checking only one reference. Many companies have hard-and-fast rules regarding references for former employees that result in handing out little more than name, rank, and serial number. The rash of defamation lawsuits brought by employees and former employees has made many employers uncomfortable about sharing any substantive information about their former workers. References check letters offer some protection from these lawsuits. A signed release form, or reference check letter, releases an employer from liability for responding truthfully to questions asked during the course of giving references. The reference check letter can be part of an employee's exit package from the company. Once the employee signs the letter, you can feel comfortable giving out job-related performance information with little fear of facing a defamation suit. Read More about Reference Check Letters and Hiring HR.BLR.com is the most complete source for practical human resources advice and plain-English compliance analysis available anywhere. No matter what the HR topic - from termination to reference checks - you’ll find hands-on help you can count on. As the laws in different states on Human Resources get more difficult and complex, keeping current can spell the difference between success and disaster for your business. The HR.BLR.com editorial staff monitors a host of private and government sources to keep you up-to-date on all the important human resource developments. The HR Library has more helpful interview resources like these: Sample Reference Check Letters Reference Checks by State Privacy vs. Your Need to Know