Quote from radar49 on 08/05/07 at 7:12pm:The safest question that can always be asked (and should be) by a prospective employer to a former employer about an applicant is "without telling me why, just 'yes' or 'no', would you re-hire this person in the future"? If the applicant being called about has done anything bordering on criminality, rest assured that the answer will be 'no'. And the red flag is raised for the prospective employer to dig further into the applicant's background.
Having been on both side of the Human Resources game, the thing to understand about Alabama is that it is a Right To Work state. If I don't like your haircut, I can fire you. I don't have to tell you that I don't like your haircut, just that you are fired. If you have reason to believe that I fired you unjustly, you can take me to court. You'll most likely lose. Most lawyers will not touch a employment case unless the EEOC has already ruled in your favor and issued you a Right To Sue letter.
On the flip side, the hiring part. If I am an employer worth his salt, I will ask for a complete employment history and send letters to the former employers. These letter (or phone calls) will ask for the following information: When did John Doe work there? What was his position? What was his income? Would you rehire? I would then match the answers with John Doe's application. If they don't match, John Doe doesn't get to work here.
If I'm an employer getting one of these letters/phone calls, the answers will be truthful, but I will not get into detail. I don't have to tell you why I will or will not re-hire. I can hide behind : Our company policy is that we will give you the dates worked, the position, the salary and if we would rehire. That is all.