An effective method to minimize the possibility that the former employer of a prospective employee will refuse to provide a reference on the grounds that a reference can give rise to defamation liability is to: obtain a right-to-sue letter from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on behalf of the former employers. require all prospective employees to sign a statement that releases his or her former employers from liability for offering references. O use the help of an unrelated third party to make background or reference checks. O limit the recruitment practices within an organization to word-of-mouth recruiting and internal promotions.