Bad reference

MissSarah1972

ACDC1978 wrote: »

No it was a verbal call, not in a letter, still shocked and bloody angry!!!

If it was verbal there is nothing you can do about it and since a lot of companies say what they want to on the phone makes you wonder why they never put it in writing! It backfiring on them is one reason people give verbal references.

MiddyMum

ACDC1978 wrote: »

The worst thing is, I called my boss since we were on good terms to tell him I had applied for the job and that would it be ok if I put him as a reference (and jokingly asked if he'd be nice!) and he said it was fine and wished me good luck for the interview, why be so 2-faced? I don't understand it!

Maybe he wasn't such a nice boss after all. You did say most people left the job via sacked, or left before pushed. Something don't sound right there.

marybelle01 wrote: »

I appreciate that - but what is it going to achieve trying to do something about it? Starting an argument with the former employer could just result in it rebounding back to the new employer. So far they are ignoring the reference. Will they decide otherwise though if it rebounds on them?

You are probably right here.

pickpocketlocket wrote: »

Even where an employer does give a false reference, the likelihood of an individual having the means to do anything about it is minimal - the cost of such a court action would outweigh any benefit to an "average" worker.

I see..

ACDC1978

McKneff wrote: »

You actually said you had been told that he said this to your current boss


Who actually told you all this, your new boss? or someone else,

I would question their motives to be honest, you may be misjudging the old boss without really knowing.

My new boss told me, I was shocked to have got a bad reference so I asked him outright what was said as I was a little upset by it!

MissSarah1972

pickpocketlocket wrote: »

Even where an employer does give a false reference, the likelihood of an individual having the means to do anything about it is minimal - the cost of such a court action would outweigh any benefit to an "average" worker.

I know of someone who sued their last employer for giving a false reference and they got loss of earnings as they did not get the job due to the false statement given by their old boss.

But still it would have to be in writing and this here wasn't.

marybelle01

pickpocketlocket wrote: »

Even where an employer does give a false reference, the likelihood of an individual having the means to do anything about it is minimal - the cost of such a court action would outweigh any benefit to an "average" worker.

If there was actual evidence of (a) an untruthful reference on a factual basis (not opinion) and (b) an actual loss - neither of which is the case here, then that would not necessarily be the case. A civil claim for negligent misstatement does not have to cost much and the claimant can even make such a claim without a lawyer. The law isn't used very often over references - but it can be and there have been successful claims.

ACDC1978

The new boss did say something about needing to get my reference emailed from my old boss after speaking to him on the phone (nothing was mentioned at that point) so I'm wondering if he was referring to the phone call or the email...

MissSarah1972

ACDC1978 wrote: »

The new boss did say something about needing to get my reference emailed from my old boss after speaking to him on the phone (nothing was mentioned at that point) so I'm wondering if he was referring to the phone call or the email...

Ask then see what he wrote about you.

ACDC1978

I might just do that, don't really wanna be rocking the boat but it's awful thinking that my new employer had been told lies and that I could have lost the job that I wanted so much!!!

MiddyMum

Maybe...and this is just a maybe that your boss tells all his new staff they got a bad reference to ensure that you will be kept in check. Now that you know there is a bad ref hanging over your head, you will more than likely try and please your boss more. It's not you fault but subconsciously you will feel like you are watching your back. Something about this " you got a bad reference but I like you anyway " doesn't sit right with me but then I am a conspiracist at heart as well. What did your new boss have to gain by telling you, you got a bad reference is the question.

MissSarah1972

ACDC1978 wrote: »

I might just do that, don't really wanna be rocking the boat but it's awful thinking that my new employer had been told lies and that I could have lost the job that I wanted so much!!!

You wont be rocking the boat as you no longer work for that company.

Id get a hard copy of what was said if one exsists and if you feel its false then maybe write to your old boss as ask why they felt the need to say that about you or ask for the facts like where they say you were late all the time.