Title VII of the Civil Rights Act 1964: Federal law prohibiting discrimination in employment recommendations based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin
Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA): Federal law protecting against age discrimination in employment-related documents and recommendations
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Federal law ensuring non-discrimination against individuals with disabilities in employment documentation
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA): Federal law protecting the privacy of student education records, relevant when discussing educational background in recommendations
State Defamation Laws: Laws protecting against written defamation (libel) in employment recommendations while recognizing truth as an absolute defense
State Employment Reference Laws: State-specific regulations governing employment references and recommendations, including good-faith statement protections
Company Confidentiality Policies: Internal organizational policies regarding the sharing of employee information and writing recommendations
Written Consent Requirement: Best practice requirement to obtain written permission from the employee before providing detailed employment recommendations
Record Keeping Requirements: Best practice requirement to maintain copies of all employment recommendations for legal protection and future reference
Equal Employment Opportunity Guidelines: Federal guidelines ensuring fair and non-discriminatory practices in employment-related documentation and recommendations
