[CM30]

Over here in Europe, your references generally don't say very much about you beyond confirming you did indeed work for that company and how long you actually worked there for.

This is to avoid issues like in the article, which can apparently leave the referee open to legal action if the candidate can say the bad reference cost them a job offer or something similar.

Is that different in the US? Do references usually mention the negatives about an applicant as well?

[pkaye]

If the reference still works at that company, typically the HR will restrict information to confirming period of employment and the title. They don't want to deal with the legal risks. However if the reference is no longer at that company I guess they could be very open.