Job references

[LocalNative]

I've kinda left my job on bad terms with my line manager. During a meeting I brought up some concerns I had with my own personal development and she took it personal thinking I was having a go at her.

A month or so later we mutually agreed to end my contract (for me it was beneficial as I was tied into a 3 month notice period). I'm delighted that I got out of the contract, however, she has lied about my performance levels before to senior staff and done her best to force me out over the past month. Tried telling the management team and HR team this but as usual, they only believe and listen to senior figures and her head is way up their hole.

My only concern now is a getting a bad reference, or them telling a reference that they 'let me go' or say that I kicked up a fuss etc during my final month. Not sure if we have any legal/hr experts on here but how much info can be disclosed in a reference? And can I take legal action for being forced out after it became personal?

 

[coollino]

Apparently, you cannot give bad references per se, they would just confirm dates of employment.

That being said, my current company love me and all they (HR) did is confirm my dates of employment and saying something along the lines of any liability of me being bad at my new job would be on my new employer and not them. I know this because my manager showed me as he thought it was weird. Could just be common practice.

If you end up getting a new job through an agency, probs best to let them know and they may sort it for you.

 

[Ernie]

Apparently, you cannot give bad references per se, they would just confirm dates of employment.

That being said, my current company love me and all they (HR) did is confirm my dates of employment and saying something along the lines of any liability of me being bad at my new job would be on my new employer and not them. I know this because my manager showed me as he thought it was weird. Could just be common practice.

If you end up getting a new job through an agency, probs best to let them know and they may sort it for you.

This is 100% spot on

They are to scared about being taken to court if they cost you the chance of getting a job, It stinks

 

[LocalNative]

Apparently, you cannot give bad references per se, they would just confirm dates of employment.

That being said, my current company love me and all they (HR) did is confirm my dates of employment and saying something along the lines of any liability of me being bad at my new job would be on my new employer and not them. I know this because my manager showed me as he thought it was weird. Could just be common practice.

If you end up getting a new job through an agency, probs best to let them know and they may sort it for you.

Cheers mate. I've always heard the whole 'can't give a bad reference' malarkey but what happens if someone is genuinely fired for being crap at their job? Wouldn't they be given a bad reference?

Should be OK though, just don't trust that bitch to do me any favours.

 

[heatmeiser]

It's not strictly true that companies can't give a bad reference, but like Ernie says, they are usually too scared about the legal consequences if they do. Though how anyone can prove the reference was true or not I'll never know.

 

[LocalNative]

It's not strictly true that companies can't give a bad reference, but like Ernie says, they are usually too scared about the legal consequences if they do. Though how anyone can prove the reference was true or not I'll never know.

Funny, I had a mate at Uni who lied on his CV about previous bar experience, prospective manager call his reference (whom happens to be his dad as he gave his number), got the reference and the job. Still working there today two years later. It's kinda like qualifications though, I've never once been asked to prove my degree, A-Levels, GCSE's etc.

 

[Toast]

Cheers mate. I've always heard the whole 'can't give a bad reference' malarkey but what happens if someone is genuinely fired for being crap at their job? Wouldn't they be given a bad reference?
.

You could always go on loan to Hull ?

 

[Bluekahunaburgers]

I would just be aware of the phrases they use. Which might look good but they can leave it open to interpretation. E.g. extremely customer focused which can be good or bad depending on which context it is taken.

 

[coollino]

Cheers mate. I've always heard the whole 'can't give a bad reference' malarkey but what happens if someone is genuinely fired for being crap at their job? Wouldn't they be given a bad reference?

Should be OK though, just don't trust that bitch to do me any favours.

No idea I'm afraid, I know nothing of HR apart from that. A lot of time, companies seem to 'advise people to resign' as opposed to sacking them. A lot less paper/legal work etc, I assume.

 

[chrismpw]

I worked at a school years back, which had a very dodgy head teacher - I won't go into details, but the words vindictive, even sadistic towards his staff could be applied. A friend of mine at the school was applying for all kinds of jobs elsewhere (many teachers were - they wanted to get out) and kept being unsuccessful. Eventually he was advised in a debrief for another unsuccessful interview to ask to see his references - which turned out to be sparse and minimalist. He raised the issue with our head (and the union) and he got his next job.
Same when i applied elsewhere - the only time I've been unsuccessful at interview, so I asked the interviewer, on debrief, to see my references. He told me he'd have to tell my Head that I'd asked for them, so i said fine. Again, they were minimalist, which is code for "I have nothing good to say." I got my next job - either because he knew I was on to him, or because the person interviewing me had also worked with that particular Head in the past, and knew what a weapons grade piece of effluent he was.

If you have more than 1 referee, you could always mention in your interview / application that you left your last job due to feeling uncomfortable with your line manager, which can happen anywhere, and kind of devalues whatever impact their reference might have.

 

[COYBL25]

@anjelikaferret is the lady for this one, this is her area

 

[COYBL25]

I would just be aware of the phrases they use. Which might look good but they can leave it open to interpretation. E.g. extremely customer focused which can be good or bad depending on which context it is taken.

This I think couid ring true.

It's not what they say, it's what they don't say and leave out.

I remember when my dad was a manager, he'd give glowing references to crap staff, just to get rid of them.

 

[coollino]

I'll give you a reference m8.

 

[Dario Terracotta]

Just working out a months notice with the Council at the minute(had enough so taken a less pressurised,and also less dough obviouslyloljob with the NHS for my own health and sanitylol)as I wind myself down to retirement,it is strange though how you are treated once you've handed your notice in,you aren't involved in meetings yet they still require your input before you departlol

 

[Minimeister]

Cheers mate. I've always heard the whole 'can't give a bad reference' malarkey but what happens if someone is genuinely fired for being crap at their job? Wouldn't they be given a bad reference?

Should be OK though, just don't trust that bitch to do me any favours.

If you give someone a bad reference then you must be able to prove that you addressed it formally while they were with you. For instance if you say someone is a terrible timekeeper then you would have to back it up with evidence/letters that you recognised the issue and tackled the person about it while they were employed by you. I had to speak to a girl we withdrew an offer of employment to last week due to her getting a bad reference. Not nice but it was for a caring role and a couple of lines in the reference worried me. As has been mentioned you can be taken to court if your reference causes the person to lose an offer of employment so as with always you need to be able to back it up.