Consent to Release Employment Information - Employee Consent Form To Release Personal Information

Due to liability and privacy issues, employers should obtain a Consent to Release Employment Information from employees who seek employment elsewhere before releasing any information in response to potential new employers' inquiries.


In a Consent to Release Employment Information form, the releasor (former employee) authorizes his/her former employer to release employment references including, but not limited to, his/her employment history and wages and any information which may be requested relative to his/her employment, employment applications, and other related matters, and to furnish copies of any and all records which the employer may have regarding his/her employment. Due to liability and privacy issues, employers should obtain a Release from employees who seek employment elsewhere before releasing any information in response to potential new employers' inquiries.

Employee Information Release Form - Best Way to Respect the Right of Employees to Privacy Authorization To Release Employment Information Template

The decision to hire a person depends on different factors and various processes. One of these is screening and performing professional background checks. These processes are highly complex and come with many legal nuances. That’s why every company needs to establish transparent and compliant background check policies, which involve dealing with employment release forms.

According to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) - which governs the rights of anyone subject to being checked - an applicant must receive and certify a release of employment information form. This form will allow an employer to run a background check on the applicant. Let’s take a closer look at what this form represents and why it’s essential for the hiring process.

What is Employee Information Release Form? Release Of Employment Information Form

The release of employment information form authorizes an applicant’s former employer to provide a record of the applicant’s professional qualification, past working experience, wages, etc. Written consent to reveal this information is required even if the company is going to run the check through specialized and certified third-party agencies. Employers can’t force applicants to grant this authorization if they feel it violates their privacy. At the same time, an employer reserves the right to reconsider giving the position to the applicate if the applicant can’t provide this consent.

What to Include in an Employee Information Release form Employee Authorization To Release Information Form

  • 1. The name of the current/former employer to whom you give the authorization to release the records.
  • 2. A written statement in which an applicant clearly consents to:
    • release information on all/some employment matters, such as salary amount (yearly), dates of employment, last job role, or any other related employment data.
    • relieve the party requesting this information from liability or responsibility for the release.
  • 3. The period during which this document will stay in force, and the grounds and conditions for revoking it.
  • 4. A statement confirming that a photo or digital copy of the document will have the same weight as the physical one (optional).
  • 5. The address, zip code, and, in some cases (the social security number of the applicant).
  • 6. The applicant’s name and signature (signing a release is mandatory).

It’s vital to notice that state and federal laws generally govern how far you can go in your employment release forms. You need to research what matters and organize your recruiting and onboarding process to align with these regulations.

How to Get a Letter of Release Template Consent For Release Of Information

US Legal Forms is a great place to start if you need to draft a release of employment information form quickly. We offer ready-to-complete document templates that are easy to download, edit, and customize. You can easily modify and fill out your form or complete a physical copy of it. Please note that our tips for preparing this form are only advisory. If you need to create a release form requesting information from strictly regulated commercial and governmental sectors, obtain help from a professional legal expert.

Explore our versatile template-based library documents and build transparent relationships with your employees from the outset!