Originally Posted by
Super27
^^This is 100% correct
Now, if a new employer wants to know more, they are always free to contact your previous employer or send a form along to your previous employer asking additional questions. Some companies will even request that you sign a consent, which will generally encourage a previous employer to be more forthcoming. This is completely an HR function of the individual company though, and has NOTHING to do with PRIA or FOIA.
Not quite true. An employer cannot give a "negative" reference (think of the liability involved). All they are required to do is confirm dates of employment. Most of the time references from previous employers are considered personal references (the manager you worked for as an example - their personal opinion not that of the company). Most large corporations have an automated system that confirms employment dates and that's it. No personal interaction with anyone from HR.
Let's face it all the department of (sub)human resources know about you is your employee #, DOH, pay rate and so on.