And, if you don’t think employers can’t “code” recommendations when you are applying for another job (even though negative info is not supposed to be gossiped about), it is more widespread than you think. It doesn’t even have to be words, it can be their tone of voice or something else as well. I had one employer much later tell me they almost didn’t hire me for that reason. My millionaire ex-employer was trying to get his digs in for costing him $5K and calling attention to his practices. Even so, I had to take a job that paid over $10K less than what I had been making, even with my education and long term experience, and got so behind it was impossible to catch everything up I had lost. The new employer watched everything I did, even having other employees do so, which made me a nervous wreck (clinically so) and we eventually parted ways. By that time, I was going into my late 50s and no one really wanted me.

Past employers are only supposed to give the dates, position and other objective information from their records. If they want to “punish” you or warn a potential employer, because they want revenge, you are toast.