My new job - Problems with Boss Part II

trixietoes

I am sure you know this already but ensure everything you say to them is either on email or followed up by email reconfirming any telephone conversation you have had. Ensure you have names, dates and times of any conversations too. My sister went through something similar she appointed a solicitor to help her.

bitsandpieces

doobiesis wrote: »

I've already got another job and told them I don't want them as ref as I'd only been there two months, they was fine with that and went to my previous employers. So I do not need them as a reference.

You don't need them as a reference *now*. What happens if - for the next job you're offered - they insist on taking up references with your last 10 employers :eek:

Agree a reference if the opportunity's there, seriously - it may seem irrellevant now, but could be essential at some future point.

jdturk

bitsandpieces wrote: »

You don't need them as a reference *now*. What happens if - for the next job you're offered - they insist on taking up references with your last 10 employers :eek:

Agree a reference if the opportunity's there, seriously - it may seem irrellevant now, but could be essential at some future point.

A company would be stupid to offer a *good* referance to an employee that is taking them to tribunal. Because even if the company loses the tribunal and they give a good referance to the person that is not factually correct they then leave themselves further open for being sued by the next company that employs the employee

dickydonkin

jdturk wrote: »

A company would be stupid to offer a *good* referance to an employee that is taking them to tribunal. Because even if the company loses the tribunal and they give a good referance to the person that is not factually correct they then leave themselves further open for being sued by the next company that employs the employee

The fact that an individual is taking a former employer to tribunal should be irrelevant in respect of references. Whether the employer is willing to offer one however, is another issue.

I fully appreciate that there is no legal obligation for a company to provide one.

If an individual has reason to go to tribunal because of aspects of the the bullying for example, and that individual has an outstanding performance record, that should not preclude that employer from offering a reference that reflects her working performance - if he wishes to do so of course.

Obviously, if the reference is inaccurate or misleading, and results in a job offer being declined that individual can pursue damages in a county court, and as you correctly stated, a company can also claim redress from a reference provider if it transpired to be misleading.

Many references offered today are just of the 'tick box' type. Many employers only provide start and finish dates.

Maybe the OP's former employer is offering a more detailed and personal reference that truly reflects her performance - and not as a way to negotiate an acceptable exit strategy or avoiding further legal action, although I suspect that there may be an element of that.

bitsandpieces

References are sometimes agreed as part of settlements in this type of dispute. Of course the OP shouldn't ask the employer to say anything untrue (and, if the employer is getting decent advice, they will be aware of the risks of giving an inaccurate reference). However, there are different ways in which a situation can be truthfully reported.

As dpassmore said, good employees can be forced out by discrimination, bullying etc. just as much as bad ones. There are plenty of situations where someone taking a former employer to tribunal would deserve a glowing reference.