UK GDPR: The UK General Data Protection Regulation governs how personal information can be shared and requires explicit consent for processing and sharing personal data in reference letters

Data Protection Act 2018: UK's implementation of data protection laws that work alongside UK GDPR to regulate the processing of personal information in reference letters

Employment Rights Act 1996: Ensures truthful representations about former employees and provides framework for fair employment practices including reference provision

Defamation Act 2013: Protects against false statements that could damage reputation, requiring recommendation letters to be truthful and accurate

Equality Act 2010: Ensures recommendations don't discriminate based on protected characteristics and maintain equal opportunities principles

Common Law Duty of Care: Legal obligation to ensure statements are made with reasonable care and accuracy to avoid negligent misstatement

ACAS Guidelines: Best practice guidelines for providing references and recommendations in the UK workplace context