When I was younger I worked in retail in California, and at two companies was told that it's effectively the same for referrals. If someone calls you for a reference of someone who worked under you, the reference should never be negative, or you're opening yourself up to a lawsuit.
Everybody knew this. "He worked here" as a response to all questions means DO NOT HIRE. People who were caught stealing would be told "quit or we call the police", but you never, ever told anyone calling for a referral about this, even if charges were eventually pressed (which rarely happened). Yes, people who were caught stealing were stupid enough to list their victims as references.
This all made doubly pointless by the fact that somewhere around 99% of people working in retail are stealing things.
Everybody knew this. "He worked here" as a response to all questions means DO NOT HIRE. People who were caught stealing would be told "quit or we call the police", but you never, ever told anyone calling for a referral about this, even if charges were eventually pressed (which rarely happened). Yes, people who were caught stealing were stupid enough to list their victims as references.
This all made doubly pointless by the fact that somewhere around 99% of people working in retail are stealing things.