I had a talk today with a person about how it was so odd that for one large business it was actually company policy to not give out references for its employees. This could be in situations where people made it clear that they were working the job as simply as a form of income as they pursue their education and aspirations to do whatever it is that may be. So imagine there the person does find a job that is closer to what they want but the current employer will simply refuse to give a reference even if they are great.
The main thoughts we were thinking of for that was that the company wanted to keep all its talent and so by not giving out references it should technically make it more difficult for one to leave. I was saying personally how that is weird if so because it’s kind of burning a bridge where you never know what the future may hold. For example, maybe in the future that company will expand and have roles available that the person wants where they will be back.
I personally feel anyways that even though it may be a loss for the business if they can help the person to grow into whatever it is that they want in the end everyone will be better off I feel. Imagine having a disgruntled person working for you each day as an example afterwards as a result of refusing to support them when you easily could have.
In many ways I suppose that is why many companies actually advertise the fact that they try and support employees in growing to whatever it is that they desire even if the job they are applying for is temporary. Again, you just never know if paths will be crossed in the future as things change.