Employment Reference Laws by State

State laws may require employers to provide job references for former employees.

Several states have laws requiring that employers provide a job reference to past employees. The shaded states on the map below have laws that may require employers to provide a letter concerning past employment services (known as a "service letter") to a former employee upon his or her request. Click on the shaded states to see a summary of the state's service letter requirements, including the information that the statement should contain so that you are in compliance with state law.