work place bully - advice please

Prudent

I worked in a job for 2 and a half years. It involved working for a serivce and delivering that service in two other places of work. In late 2005 I moved to another job. My main reason for leaving was the travelling involved, but I was also stressed by low level bullying by my boss at the service. As I spent most times in the other places of work- where I was well treated and valued - it was not such a big issue that I wanted to make formal complaint.

In the period prior to leaving I applied for two jobs. In both cases the bullying boss gave me outstanding references. I also had references from one of the other places of work which were comparable. I was highly competent and well respected - the references reflected this. When I got the new job my boss tried to refuse to release me - saying that my skills were difficult to replace- I had to approach human resources (the organisation is part of a local council) and they over ruled her siting my right to resign. I believe they spoke to her about her behaviour.

I am now looking for another post and wrote to my previous boss requesting references for four posts. All of which I have the skills and experience to do. She refused in a short letter saying I did not demonstarte practise to match the skills. In actual fact they required less of the skills I had used working for her. I am now in a difficult position as all posts are expecting a reference for her as they stated current and previous employer.

She is a known bully and I know that mine is one a number of complaints currently with human resources about her. I am not unduly concerned about two of the posts as they are with that council as her reputaion is widely known. However two posts are outwith the council and they do not know.

Please does anyone have any advise? The posts are all interviewing soon and I am afraid my chances my be jepodised.

Thriftylady

Would it be possible to tell your prospective employer that your old employer has a policy of not giving references ? This just springs to mind because the company I work for does refuse to give references, and staff are not allowed to give any type of personal type reference for colleagues either, so its not beyond the realms of possiblity.

I don't like the idea of lying, but I don't think its wise to tell a prospective employer that you had an issue with bullying as sadly most companies think that the victim, not the perpetrator, must be the one with the problem.

Life_On_Mars

Prudent wrote:

.... In both cases the bullying boss gave me outstanding references. I also had references from one of the other places of work which were comparable.

Do you have copies of these references? If so, you could be honest in your applications and explain exactly what has happened - if you bully ex-boss refuses to write you a reference or writes you a bad one you can show these, which will make her look like the stupid bully she is. HR might not accept it, however

Prudent wrote:

.... When I got the new job my boss tried to refuse to release me - saying that my skills were difficult to replace- I had to approach human resources (the organisation is part of a local council) and they over ruled her siting my right to resign. I believe they spoke to her about her behaviour.

Did they? Can you get anything in writing from HR to back up your story? You could use the Data protection Act to get copies of any paperwork with your name on it, but that will take too long (over 40 days, I think) for your job applications.

Prudent wrote:

.... I am now looking for another post and wrote to my previous boss requesting references for four posts. All of which I have the skills and experience to do. She refused in a short letter saying I did not demonstarte practise to match the skills. In actual fact they required less of the skills I had used working for her.

You might want to write to her again and inform her of her legal obligation to write a true, fair and accurate reference....

Prudent wrote:

.... She is a known bully and I know that mine is one a number of complaints currently with human resources about her.

That may be true, but it doesn't look like HR are really doing much if anything about her

Is there any way you can get HR to write you a reference rather than your bully ex-boss? Or someone else in department you worked in?

Thriftylady

I think the whole area of references is a nightmare which is so open to abuse anyway. Its not unusual to hear of people getting poor references from a boss who doesn't want to lose them, or good ones from a boss who can't wait to see them go, its so infuriating....

Prudent

Does she have a legal obligation to right an honest reference? Is so can I write to her stating that?

Fran

Is this info from Out-Law.com any use?

Can't you get someone else at work to write the reference, presumably you had dealings with more than one person?

Let us know how you get on, bullys at work are so hard to do anything about.

Prudent

Fran wrote:

Is this info from Out-Law.com any use?

Can't you get someone else at work to write the reference, presumably you had dealings with more than one person?

Let us know how you get on, bullys at work are so hard to do anything about.

I will now get someone else to do the reference. I will ask to person who also gave me the excellent reference last time. There are no issues with her and I know the reference will still be excellent. However as boss 1 has openly refused I am afraid damage is already done. As I said in my original post I am concerned about the posts outwith the authority (which are the ones I most want). Fortunately my job involved going to a lot of places on a casual basis for consultancy work so my reputation in the authority is good and known by a lot of people.

Prudent

Thriftylady wrote:

Would it be possible to tell your prospective employer that your old employer has a policy of not giving references ? This just springs to mind because the company I work for does refuse to give references, and staff are not allowed to give any type of personal type reference for colleagues either, so its not beyond the realms of possiblity.

I don't like the idea of lying, but I don't think its wise to tell a prospective employer that you had an issue with bullying as sadly most companies think that the victim, not the perpetrator, must be the one with the problem.

I would be unwilling to lie as it would compromise my professional integrity.I can avoid using her in the future as I have other people for whom I provided a service at the time who will give me an excellent refrence. I guess I am just upset about the damge this person has caused in these interviews and the fact it is a blatent injustice. I have just dug out my annual reviews from this boss, which are very comprehensive. They are excellent too. I can only think she is motivated by malice because I left when she told me not too.

I can be honest in one of the interviews. That small team contains someone who left my workplace two years ago - because of bullying by this boss. I know the people doing the interviews are aware of this. It is just so detriemental to the other interviews.

THE_LONE_RANGER_4

Hi You Need To Contact You Old Employer And Go Direct To Hr State The Referances Given By One Of There Managers Is Basically Untrue Send Them A Copy And State In Your Opinion She Is Damaging Your Job Prospects On Purpose As She Didnt Want You To Leave And You Will Be Seking Legal Advise If They Are Unwilling To Deal With It.
Leave The Ball In There Court And Wait And You Should Get An Answear Acceptable To You

jet77

I would be tempted to contact ACAS about them - they were amazing when I suffered sexual harassement at work.

lovemystudentloan

Perhaps if you just tell them the truth, that your boss was unhappy at losing you and had previously given you glowing references, you could ask the outside agencies to accept copies of your references? As long as they know they're genuine references they should be happy. this backed up by your annual revies should more than swing the job for you, and if need be your potential employer could contact other places you applied for and ask for copies of your old bosses old reference themself? Whatever happens, DON'T WORRY! Your only worrying because this horrible lump of mincemeat is trying to ruin your chances. All that's behind you now, so don't let them. You know you can do the job and you're good at it, so go and get it