Reference advice!!

tina83

Hi All!
Hope you can help me! (apologies in advance for long post!!)
I commute 126 miles a day (round trip) to work at a large finance company. The management was recently changed as was the structure leaving me with a boss who couldn't stand me and even more responsibility. This and the commute led to me being signed off work sick by the doc on June 2nd - I have been off since with stress/depression.

Before being signed off and since then, I have been desperately searching for a new job and have recently been offered one (which is close to home so no more commuting). My worry is that I have not told my new place of employment about my time off sick and my contract is subject to satisfactory references!

Can my old place of work give me a bad reference? I am so scared because I really want this new job and really think I can be successful in it!

Any advice will be greatly appreciated! Should I hand in my notice and hope for the best?

Thanks in advance :-)

Emmzi

they can give a factual reference including time off ill.

I would talk to your prospective new employer so it isn't a surprise to them. If it is a large organisations with robust policies and procedures in place they will likely ask anyway.

brians_daughter

they cant give a 'bad' ref but they can tell the truth is asked about sick time etc. soem employers will only give ' x was employed in x role from x to x '

If its a large org then usually HR deals with it and not your manager and they can only look at facts ie did you do your job well, any disciplinaries etc etc

Your future employer may send a questionnaire type thing (i think they can still do this) which asks for sick leave, attendance etc etc

TBH if you have been off work then i doubt your current employer will look favourably on your seeking other employment whilst being signed off ill, too sick to work but fit enough to seek work?! Harsh, but if you think of it from your employers point of view it is true. Even tho they may be the cause of the stress initially

I would be handing notice now,as it seems clear you arent going back anyway, and when they do get the ref through at least they know you're leaving

Also may be worth asking a manager (not the one you dont get along with) if they will do a personal ref for you. At least you get one good one from apersonal point of view from someone higher up in the company

Whats the chance they will actually get the refs? I have been put as a ref 4 times for ppl who have secured a job but only 1 of the companies actually bothered to contact me

tina83

Thanks to both of you for your quick responses. I am going to hand my notice in anyway because it's highly unlikely that I will return to the 126 mile a day commute anyway. My previous boss has stated that he is willing to give a reference for me by phone but due to company policy, he cannot give a written one, that would have to go to my new boss (who hates me) or HR!

Oh well, will go with the notice and keep my fingers crossed! Now....how to word my notice?! :-)

brians_daughter

thats the easy bit.. 'Inline with my contract T&C's please take this as my written and formal notice to terminate my employment with x.It is with much consideration and regret that i have come to this decision..blah blah... i have enjoyed my time working at x and would like to thank you for the opportunity blah blah

Good luck with the new job!

Did you put your past biss on the form as a ref? They should take a personal phone ref as well as the written employer ones

tina83

Thanks Brians daughter! Letter written and just waiting for a meeting with the boss now to hand it in! Really appreciate your help!
Havent given reference details yet but expecting a offer letter through that will request that info so hopefully they will call previous boss!! (previous boss within same company as new mean one though)!!
Thanks again! :-)

Savvy_Sue

Why do you need to meet with your boss? Post it, surely ...

tina83

Thought I should meet with the boss out of courtesy.... feels rude just posting a resignation letter, feel I should at least meet them face-to-face :-)

Tiddlywinks

Larger organisations tend to ask for references in writing rather than just making a call in order to maintain a full audit trail to demonstrate due process was followed.

I can understand that your existing company has set procedures for supplying references, this is fairly common and it usually falls to the current line manager or to HR. As you have only worked for your current LM for a short time (and given the absence means very little recent contact) you could suggest to HR that they consult with your previous LM as he will know you best. However, in practice, larger organisations just leave it to the centre to fill out the form based on the previous appraisals. References tend to be quite generic and almost boring in that they just confirm (or otherwise) good conduct etc.

I think the main issue could be the sick leave as most references ask for details of recent sick absence.

Hope everything turns out OK for you.

Savvy_Sue

Well, offer to go in for a meeting if he'd like that, in the letter, or phone and say "I thought I should let you know that I have decided to resign and my letter is in the post."

I certainly wouldn't travel all that way unless I KNEW he was going to be there and would WANT to see me!

wynnvegas

I'd agree. You're wasting a trip only to go in and resign. Pop the letter in the post or send an email - either way is perfectly acceptable. My only concern here is that, if the other company questioned you about any absenteeism or asked about such in an application form and you haven't disclosed it, a reference detailing your absenteeism obviosuly won't look too hot.