How to Word an Employment Verification Affidavit

As the owner or manager of a business, you may have to verify the employment of a former worker. Federal and state laws regarding what is subject to disclosure significantly limits what an employer can say about a former employee.

Things You'll Need

• Written employment verification affidavit

Instructions

1. Obtain a written request for the prospective employer who is seeking an employment verification affidavit from you. A written request is necessary to document your records.

2. Draft a simple, direct employment verification affidavit.

3. Limit the information in the affidavit to the date of hire, last day worked, position held and the salary or wage paid to the former employer at the end of his term of employment.

4. Include verification language that reads: "The undersigned hereby verifies that the above and foregoing information is true and correct to the best of her knowledge and belief."

5. Sign the employment verification affidavit in front of a notary public.

Tips & Warnings

• As a precaution, if your business has an attorney on retainer, run the completed employment verification affidavit past him before you deliver it to the inquiring prospective employer.

• Avoid making a derogatory statement or comment about a former employee that could be misconstrued. Even if you have a generally positive opinion of the individual, do not write that in the employment verification affidavit.

References

• Find Law: Giving References for Former Employees
• "Employment Law"; John Jude Moran; 2007
• "Employment Law in a Nutshell"; Robert N. Covington; 2009

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• NOLO: Giving References for Former Employees