Closed petition Allow all employees access to references provided by past employers

Closed on 22 January 2021

Under the Data Protection Act individuals are not entitled to access a confidential employment reference written about them; either from the author of the reference i.e. the ex-employer, or from the recipient of the reference i.e. the new or prospective employer.

This exemption to the right to access personal information could be in breach of Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights in respect of an individual’s right to a private life, as it is questionable whether the exemption which permits the reference to be withheld is proportionate to the individual’s right to fairness and transparency regarding their personal data.