UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018: Key data protection legislation governing how personal information should be handled and shared in reference letters

Employment Rights Act 1996: Legislation covering the duty to provide basic references if contractually agreed and requirements for accuracy and fairness

Defamation Act 2013: Law protecting against libel claims and establishing requirements for truthful statements in references

Equality Act 2010: Legislation preventing discrimination in references and ensuring equal treatment regardless of protected characteristics

Common Law Duty of Care: Legal obligation to provide references that are true, accurate, and fair to both former employee and prospective employer

Factual Accuracy Requirement: Legal requirement that all information provided in the reference must be factually correct and verifiable

Anti-Misleading Provision: Legal obligation to ensure the reference cannot be misleading by omission or presentation

Consent Requirement: Need to obtain appropriate consent from the employee before sharing their personal information in a reference

Confidentiality Protection: Legal obligation to protect confidential information while providing reference information

Disclaimer Requirement: Legal consideration for including appropriate disclaimers to limit liability while providing references