Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA): Federal law regulating the collection, dissemination, and use of consumer information, including employment verification. Must be considered when providing employment history information.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act: Prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. The experience letter must not contain any discriminatory language or references to protected characteristics.
Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA): Protects workers 40 and older from age discrimination. The experience letter should avoid any age-related references or implications.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities. The letter must not disclose any disability-related information or accommodations provided.
Immigration Reform and Control Act: Federal law concerning employment verification of immigration status. Relevant when the experience letter may be used for immigration purposes.
State Privacy Laws: Various state-specific regulations governing the protection and disclosure of personal information in employment records and verification letters.
Truth in Reference Laws: State-specific laws governing the content of employment references and experience letters, including protection against defamation and requirements for truthful information.
Document Retention Requirements: Federal and state regulations specifying how long employment-related documents must be maintained and in what format.
Service Letter Laws: State-specific laws that may require employers to provide service letters upon request, detailing employment tenure and nature of service.
HIPAA: Federal law protecting medical information privacy. Relevant if the experience letter might contain any health-related information or references to medical leave.
