It seems unreasonable to take so long to respond, as both the employee and new employer are left hanging on. When the references arrive they’ve all been great so it’s not a case of being unwilling to write the reference in the first place.
How long would you expect to wait for a reference you’d requested?
How quickly do you respond if you receive a reference request? Personally I aim to provide it within 48 hours.
Do people simply place less stock in references these days or have I just been unlucky with my timing over the last couple of months?