Petition · past parliament
Allow all employees access to references provided by past employers
Closed
51 signatures
What the petition asks
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.
Timeline
| 22 Jul 2020 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 22 Jan 2021 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
51
Status
Closed
Opened
22 Jul 2020
Closed
22 Jan 2021
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.