Lie or not to lie?

unclekevin

Basically i was dismissed from my last job for gross misconduct-dishonesty (threw a sickie and got found out), my sick record in the time i was employed was one of the best in the company amongst the 150+ people who worked there, my company was under pressure to get rid of jobs and offered people voluntary redundancy late last year so when my case came to light the company had a perfect excuse of getting rid of me without paying out, anyway i was in the wrong, taken it on the chin and now i am in the process of looking for other jobs.
Myself and my ex line manager got on really and he was gutted that i lost my job as at the time i took my 'sickie' my line manager was on holiday and another line manager was covering for him went to higher management as soon as he found out what happened, so when my line manager came back from his holiday, heard what happened with me went to his manager pleading with him to give me a lesser penalty other than dismissal as it was the first and only time i had done this and it was out of my character but it didn't help and i was dismissed, i knew i was getting sacked so it really didn't come as a shock, any way my ex line manager has told me he will give me a very good reference, in fact i have the seen the reference from my ex line manager and it paints me as a good person (apart from my one stupid mistake) i am and i was excellent at my job.
Now here's my dilemma, when it comes to the section on any application form and the section says REASON FOR LEAVING do i put down that i was dismissed for gross misconduct -dishonest or something else? (i.e) fresh challenge, took voluntary redundancy, etc.... knowing full well that i have a good reference to back me up? My heart says i should put the real reason why i left my last job but my head says something else, i am thinking that if any future employees see the real reason why i left my last job then they will take one look at my application form and discard it.

Zazen999

Even if your ex manager gave a personal reference; it is still on record that you were dismissed. Often, managers will call the old company and ask for an off the record reference, or will write to your old company for a reference - whether you put it on your CV or not.

Sunshine12

If you lie and get found out then they could get rid of you too which will mean you then have to explain both to any future employers which would be even worse.

I think perhaps you should tell the truth but enclose a reference from your previous line manager with the application.

BERFFRO

Wow deja vu! The same thing has happened to me, Although my "sickie" was justified i got dismissed, Factory manager hated my guts and he dismissed me with a great big smile on his face.

The first applications i sent out i lied saying i was leaving the firm, But as my conscience grew I have started putting the truth down, Honesty is the best policy I've heard:D

Today i filled in an application form for a job which i would really like so i've put in "that i would discuss this further at Interview stage, if i was lucky enough to get to that stage" Even though I would tell them the truth if i ever got that far, I'd just be hoping that my other attributes would be considered before they make their decision.

ex-dmp

Going on the OP content, looks like a case of unfair dismissal to me. throw a sickie may require informal or formal warning but dismissal against a background of redundancies looks dodgy to me.

How long ago was this? There are time frames to observe when appealing etc.

Did you appeal?

Did your company follow due process? Witness present etc.

If you not a union member (which most employees should be in the current economic climate) seek advice from ACAS 08457 47 47 47 or acas.org.uk

anthonyr_2

I would lie..what have you got to lose? You probably wont get the job if you are honest, and if you got the job and they later found out you are still in the same situation with no job. Better to take the risk, after all you say you were good at the previous job so if things go the same way there should be no problem in future as long as you learnt your lesson!

Savvy_Sue

anthonyr wrote: »

I would lie..what have you got to lose?

A second job?

Sunshine12 wrote: »

If you lie and get found out then they could get rid of you too which will mean you then have to explain both to any future employers which would be even worse.

I think perhaps you should tell the truth but enclose a reference from your previous line manager with the application.

What she said.

mrcow

I would say not to put "gross dismissal" too.

I think I would put something along the lines of "company downsizing" and leave it at that.

The likelihood of not getting a job because you've put "gross misconduct" on an application form is greater than your new company finding out.

starrystarry

Have you learned nothing from what happened last time you lied?

mrcow

starrystarry wrote: »

Have you learned nothing from what happened last time you lied?

Don't get caught?

starrystarry

mrcow wrote: »

Don't get caught?

In Kevin's case, don't do it, you're rubbish at it.