UK GDPR: The UK General Data Protection Regulation governs how personal information should be handled and shared in recommendation letters, requiring consent and proper data handling

Data Protection Act 2018: UK's implementation of data protection requirements, working alongside UK GDPR to protect personal data in professional communications

Employment Rights Act 1996: Fundamental UK employment legislation that ensures recommendation letters respect basic employment rights and protections

Equality Act 2010: Ensures recommendation letters are free from discriminatory language and bias based on protected characteristics

Defamation Act 2013: Protects against making potentially libelous statements in recommendation letters that could damage reputation

Common Law Duty of Care: Legal obligation to exercise reasonable care and skill when providing recommendations to avoid causing harm

Negligent Misstatement: Common law principle requiring accuracy and truthfulness in statements made about colleagues in recommendation letters

ACAS Guidelines: Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service guidelines providing best practices for writing professional references and recommendations