We recommend that the following guidelines be followed in responding to employment questions:

1. If you have any reason to believe that the person requesting information is not a potential employer or a licensing agency, do not give out information.
2. Provide information only in response to a verbal or written request for information. Do not volunteer information without a request for such information.
3. Do not give out any information that is not accurate, factual, and documented in the personnel file.
4. If you do provide information, you must provide any significant negative information as well as positive information. (This point is explained in greater detail in section C below).
5. The personnel file itself, or any written documents from the file should be released only with a release from the former employee or in response to a subpoena. Prior to releasing information in response to a subpoena, you should contact County Counsel to ensure the correct legal process is followed.
6. Medical information should never be provided unless you receive an original signed release from the employee, and the release includes a specific statement that authorizes the release of that information. Care needs to be taken to ensure that you do not provide information beyond the scope of any medical request.
7. Do not provide information if there is any connection, other than the employer-employee relationship, between you and the person about whom information is being sought, without prior consultation with Employee & Labor Relations or your Personnel Services Analyst.