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Employee Reference Letter
Free employee reference letter template — an employer provides a factual reference for a former employee's job performance and conduct.
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This free employee reference letter covers Employment Details, Performance (if company policy permits detailed references), Contact with 9 clearly marked [placeholder] fields to fill in — built for small business owners and first-time managers handling an HR moment professionally without a dedicated HR department to lean on. Copy it into your own word processor, fill in the placeholders, and review it — or adapt it — before use. It's part of docstoc's free document template library, alongside business, legal, real estate, finance, and HR templates. Every template here is free to copy with no signup required, and each one carries a plain disclaimer: this is a starting point for informational purposes, not a substitute for advice from a licensed professional in your jurisdiction.
Employee Reference Letter
[Date]
To Whom It May Concern,
This letter confirms that [Employee Name] was employed by [Company Name] as [Job Title] from [Start Date] to [End Date].
Employment Details
Reason for leaving: [Factual reason, if company policy permits sharing it] Eligible for rehire: [ ] Yes [ ] No [ ] Not disclosed per company policy
Performance (if company policy permits detailed references)
[Factual, specific comments on job performance, attendance, and conduct — many companies limit this to dates and title only, per legal counsel's recommendation.]
Contact
For verification of this information, please contact [HR Contact, Phone/Email].
Sincerely, [Name, Title] [Company Name]
*This document is provided for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Many companies have a policy of only confirming dates of employment and job title (a "neutral reference"), specifically to avoid defamation risk from a negative reference or discrimination risk from an inconsistent one — check your own company's reference policy before including performance commentary.*
Edit directly in the box above. Download PDF anytime — the docstoc.io footer is always included and cannot be removed.
What's included
- Edit online — click the document, fill in placeholders, download a PDF
- 3 standard sections: Employment Details, Performance (if company policy permits detailed references), Contact
- 9 clearly marked [placeholder] fields for quick personalizing
- Free to use — no account or signup required
- Fully editable — adjust any clause to match your actual situation
- Fixed docstoc.io footer on every PDF (not removable)
Who this template is for
Freelancers & solo founders
Handling routine business paperwork without commissioning custom legal drafting for every document.
Small businesses
Standardizing recurring documents — leases, agreements, notices — across a growing operation.
Anyone reviewing before signing
Using a clear starting structure to understand what a document should cover, even if a lawyer finalizes it.
Growing teams
Formalizing hiring and performance processes as a company adds its first employees.
FAQ
Is this employee reference letter template really free?
Yes — this Employee Reference Letter template on docstoc is free to view, edit online, and download as a PDF with no account or signup required.
What does this employee reference letter cover?
This hr template includes Employment Details, Performance (if company policy permits detailed references), Contact. Fill in the [bracketed] placeholders, edit any clause online, then download a PDF — the docstoc.io footer stays on every export.
Is this legal advice?
No. Employment documents sit on top of a mix of federal, state, and sometimes city labor law — at-will employment rules, required notices, and what you can and can't put in writing all vary. Have an employment attorney or HR professional confirm this fits your jurisdiction before you use it.
Can I edit the wording?
Yes — edit directly on the page, adjust any section or clause, and re-fill the 9 placeholder fields to match your situation before downloading a PDF. It's a starting structure, not a rigid script.
Where can I find more free templates like this?
Browse more free hr and related document templates in the docstoc library at /document-templates/.
More free document templates
- Employee Offer Letter
- Employee Written Warning / Disciplinary Notice
- Employment Agreement
- Cover Letter
- Employee Handbook Outline
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Why use this instead of a generic template
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Legality
Templates are drafted for general use, not a substitute for legal advice — check the note on each page for specifics.
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Speed
Copy the subject and body directly — no form to fill in, no export step, no waiting on a download link.
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