SECTION 340:2-1-34. Employment verifications and references

(a)   Employment verification inquiries. Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) responses to employment verification inquiries, such as credit references, work status inquiries, and employment references on employees or former employees are made either by Financial Services (FS) or Human Resource Management (HRM), except as noted in (b) of this Section.

(1)   FS or HRM provides only the employee's or former employee's correct name, dates of employment, and the current or last job family descriptor and level held.

(2)   an employee's or former employee's address, Social Security number, or other information is not provided.

(3)   Only salary confirmation information is provided.

(4)   additional information may be released only upon receipt of a written authorization from the employee or former employee.

(b)   References. Professional references cannot impart any confidential information and must be void of personal opinionand content of a defamatory, retaliatory, or discriminatory nature.

(1)   Internal requests. Supervisors and managers must respond to reference requests initiated within DHS. The response is in writing either by memo or email.

(2)   External requests. Managers and supervisors do not respond to verbal requests for references. A release for information signed by the employee must be received.

(c)   Personal references. Employees or former employees frequently ask administrators, managers, supervisors, or co-workers for personal references. Individuals providing references are cautioned they may be liable and subject to discipline for providing incorrect, inappropriate, or exaggerated references or information.

[Source: Added at 18 Ok Reg 2606, eff 6-26-01; Amended at 19 Ok Reg 2182, eff 6-27-02; Amended at 20 Ok Reg 1981, eff 6-26-03; Amended at 21 Ok Reg 1338, eff 5-27-04; Amended at 22 Ok Reg 1173, eff 6-1-05; Amended at 25 Ok Reg 1933, eff 7-1-08; Amended at 35 Ok Reg 1559, eff 9-17-18]