[header] How to give a negative employee reference [title] Consider refusing to write a reference. [step] You aren't obligated to write a reference unless it says in the employment contract that you will give one. For that reason, you should consider saying " no. 
" negative references can be more trouble than they are worth. [substeps] If the person asking for the reference is a former employee, you can tell them they would be better off choosing someone more familiar with their recent work.