How Serious Is It to Issue a Character Certificate for an Ex-Manager Friend?

I am a manager in a PSU, and one of my ex-employees who was of the same rank has asked me to issue a character certificate to him as he is going for an interview for a different company. He says it's just a formality.

I want to know how serious this case is if I issue him a simple character certificate on good friendship terms. I am a little worried because he was also a manager, and he never worked under me.

Kindly reply.

Politely tell your friend to obtain a character certificate from another person of higher cadre or a well-known individual with a good reputation from their locality.

Issuing a Character Certificate: Considerations for PSU Managers

A character certificate is not something that can be enforced, nor can any action be taken against you as such. However, if it is found to be given frivolously, for pecuniary gains, or knowingly false (not doing due diligence would fall into this category), you are morally wrong and may have facilitated someone in doing something wrong. So, yes, it is a serious matter, but not something you can be taken to court for.

On the other hand, as a manager in a PSU, various rules apply to you. First, check the service rules and CPSC rules (or whatever they are called—governing the conduct of government/public servants) to see whether you are allowed to give such a certificate. Your position places a higher moral liability on you and may cause you to suffer if the certificate turns out to be wrong. I would say it's something to avoid, but it is definitely something you need to read up on, whether you decide to give it or refuse.

Regards

Character Certificates in Private Organizations

Character certificates are generally issued by the Admin Office in private organizations, often referred to as the HR Department. You may advise the ex-employee to approach them for the issuance of the character certificate. If there is no provision to contact the Admin department directly, you should first review the application form to determine if it is mandatory to obtain this certificate.

Character certificates are issued to certify that the applicant has an unblemished record. Students, when changing educational institutions either for higher studies or due to parental transfers, are typically required to submit a character certificate upon admission to the new institute.

In general, a character certificate indicates that the departure from the previous organization occurred under normal circumstances without any negative implications. However, instances of discharge due to poor performance do not impact the character certificate. Similarly, if an employee receives disciplinary action for misconduct, this information is not included in the character certificate. Character certificates may be withheld in cases of employment abandonment or termination arising from acts of moral turpitude.

Thanks,

Dinesh Divekar

You may issue such a certificate if you are authorized to do so by your organization after verifying your office record to ensure that no disciplinary action is pending, initiated, or contemplated against him.

All the learned counsel regarding your query is correct. You may issue the Character Certificate to the best of your knowledge about him, in your own capacity, without using the company's letterhead. This approach allows you to handle it diplomatically.

Best Regards,
PS

You may issue the certificate on your personal letterhead and not on the company letterhead. It can be issued not as a colleague, but as a person who has known him for a number of years and could endorse his character.

Issuing Character Certificates: A Common Practice

Character certificates are commonly issued, and there is no harm or liability involved. Only an authorized person is supposed to issue such a certificate.

I have worked in HR at PS Bank for a long time and have issued many such certificates, so it's not a big deal. As I have advised earlier, he may issue such a certificate if he is an authorized person, of course, after verifying his past official record. In such a certificate, terms like "To the best of my knowledge..." are used. There is no liability. Issue it bravely.

Regards

Thank you to everyone for taking the time to reply to my query. I am not from the HR department, but I had issued a character certificate to him with the company stamp on it because his integrity had been unwavering during his time at our PSU. However, he chose not to use it after discovering that I was a little concerned about the entire situation. These types of dilemmas can be quite daunting. Hahah.

Regards.