I never sign any pdpa or fill in reference before/during/after interview.

I understand that as a employer, you want to hire a right person, but you can do that checking during employee probation period.

Your current employer/boss still a human, they will be emotional sometime. My ex-boss, treat every staff like his family, but once he know a staff plan to resign, went to interview etc, because of those employee background check phone call, he 360 degree turn and treat that staff like a dog during his serve notice period.

That why we have probation period for employee to understand their job, and also employers to understand their staff more. both side can be terminated.