problem with references for new job

i-dont-do-pink

hi,

i had an interview back in november for a new job. im currently not working as my agency work ended. I was successfull and since november the "new employer" has asked both of my referees to return my references several times. They keep promising to do it but still have not. Now i got a letter from the new employer saying that if they are not recieved by Feb 2nd that they will withdraw the offer of employment !!

I have spoken to , emailed and sent txt to both of the referees (both local authority) keep promising but noting happens ! I spoke to the job centre last week to see if they could chase them for me - they said no even though it means i would be off benefit.

My solicitor was too busy to speak to me - though she might have put the frightners on them for me.

Local MP wont get involved due to a "conflict of interest" with the local authority !

I even left a message on the phone of the head of the council asking him to return my call - he has not bothered.

dont know what else i can do / what my rights are here.........

Lyndsey

ps they have absolutley no reason not to give me a good reference

Vader123

There is no legal obiligation for ex-employer to give a reference.

Its good practice too, but they don't have to. Solicitors letters and even MP letters might help, but not legally.

Why did you pick these people and did they know you were going to name them as referees?

Also, can you pick someone else?

Or go in and see them?

Vader

viktory

i-dont-do-pink wrote: »

My solicitor was too busy to speak to me - though she might have put the frightners on them for me.

This always amuses me - do many people have 'their' solicitor on a retainer?

i-dont-do-pink

I named them both as they were my 2 most recent employers , I had permission from both of them so yeah they knew. I asked the "new employer" if i could change the references to save time / hastle etc but they said im unable to as they have to be the most recent ones , so unfortunaltley no option there.

As for the other comment , if you dont have anything productive to say then why bother speaking at all ........ :rotfl:

dmg24

What has your MP got to do with it? (insert confused smilie!)

i-dont-do-pink

I was referred to the MP by the job centre !

Savvy_Sue

Contact HR and ask what policy is, and if they can help.

viktory

i-dont-do-pink wrote: »

As for the other comment , if you dont have anything productive to say then why bother speaking at all ........ :rotfl:

What other comment? I suspect you mean my comment so will respond accordingly. Have you actually read much on this forum? I would suggest that only 45% of what is written on MSE is productive! Think of it like a conversation with many people. Some make sensible comments, some are sarcastic, some are rude and some make pointless asides that amuse, annoy, irritate etc...Ignore the stuff you don't like, respond to the comments that require an answer, laugh and thank where applicable. Above all, try not to take it so seriously. You'll give yourself an ulcer

gairlochgal

I work for a local authority and we are specifically told not to provide references for agency staff. We evaluate their performance for the agency at the end of the contract and that's the limit. It's to protect the authority against claims/complaints from people who did not have full employment rights. It seems odd to me though as we are also encouraged to minimise our use of agency staff and to hire permanently wherever possible, so I question why we are sending good agency workers out into the market without references.

Anihilator

I am guessing the LA don't feel they can give references as they are not actually your previous employer which is what they are being approached as.

Dizzy_Ditzy

my reference had to come from the agency as they were actually the ones employing me.

Fortunatley for myself, I was able to get a reference from the boss lady as well but on the whole, you should give the agency as a reference.