Real-life MMD: Should I give former colleague an undeserved reference?

Seakay

the reason so few references are actually taken up nowadays is because fear of legal retribution means that they have to be as informative as an MPs answer! Say you'll be a referee. In the unlikely even of having to provide a reference follow company guidelines which will limit you to name age and dates of employment, pretty much. Professional references can't even say 'honest' any more in case the company is help responsible should any theft happen in the future.
If a personal reference is required then stick to positive comments which have nothing to do with what you know of her employment history. eg so and so has been fulfilling the role of responsible carer for however long and is now very keen to re-enter the workplace - or something on those lines.

portlandboy

debbiesmum wrote: »

I agree with the comments that a reference should be from the actual employer, NOT a colleague. I worked in HR for many years in a large international organisation. We only sought references from a previous employer. We never accepted a reference which a prospective candidate brought to interview (have you ever known anyone hand over a bad reference). I would politely decline the offered reference and explain that we always wrote "potential employer" to ex-employer seeking a reference.

A work colleague should only be giving a "character" reference eg, fine upstanding citizen, etc - NOT commenting on a colleague's work performance - that's for the boss to supply.

So that's why it's so hard for young people and full-time parents who may have last worked 10years ago to get into the job market is it? What do you do if a candidate was made redundant when a company closes down? Only accepting a previous employers' reference excludes so many good candidates from the oportunity of gaining work.

magentalady

This question is really difficult to answer without more information. It really depends on the nature of her 'messing up', and on the type of reference you're being asked to provide.

If she's asking you for a reference then she can't think she screwed up that badly, surely? If we're talking about her just not understanding something properly, or perhaps not managing to meet a deadline for legitimate reasons, then I don't really see why you couldn't still provide a reference simply stating that she worked there between such and such dates. References don't usually need to be any more detailed than that, so you don't have to write a glowing essay full of lies about what a wonderful employee she is. However, as others have said, the reference might be better coming from your boss or HR department anyway.

If, however, her 'messing up' was something more serious, like being dismissed because she was turning up to work drunk or pulling sickies all the time, then that's a different matter and I would just tell her that given the circumstances you wouldn't feel comfortable providing such a reference. But if that was the case I'd have to wonder why she'd be asking you for a reference in the first place.

I have to agree with reluctantworkingmum that she's obviously struggling and, unless you have a good reason for thinking she'd be a terrible employee, I see no reason to jeopardise her chances of future employment.

Barryfan

I assume you will be provided with a job description so that you can see what the job entails. If you feel she wouldn't be up to the job, then tell her that and say you aren't able to help. No point in giving her an inappropriate reference.

pennypinchUK

Believe me, as a former HR professional who has written countless references there are many, many ways to write a reference that tells a prospective employer exactly what an individual is like without dropping the person in it. Just one example "Person X usually completes their work satisfactorily." An experienced reference reader will know instantly that this is anything but a glowing comment on the person's performance - a high performer would have comments like "Person X always completes their work to exceptionally high standards", etc.

If you're still not happy about writing a reference, phone the reference requester. Then, nothing has to be put in writing. And remember, you don't have to respond to a reference.

magentalady

Barryfan wrote: »

I assume you will be provided with a job description so that you can see what the job entails. If you feel she wouldn't be up to the job, then tell her that and say you aren't able to help. No point in giving her an inappropriate reference.

I'm sorry, but I really don't agree. Even if you are given a job description, which is unlikely, it's not up to you to decide whether or not she's suitable for a particular job. When companies ask for references they usually just want to hear 'yes, she worked here and no, she wasn't fired for gross misconduct'. The rest is up to them to judge her suitability for the job.

A character reference is a different thing altogether but it doesn't sound like that's what's being asked for here.

Talent

Absolutely.... No!

anjak-j

No dilemma here for me. The answer would be a resounding NO.

Work is work; friendship does not enter into that equation. I wouldn't sully my own professional reputation for a friend who has already proven herself to be an unreliable worker, and who has already stained my reputation by under-perfoming in a job I got them. It's is not worth the comeback or legal complications from your friend if you write a less-than-stellar reference, or the potential employer if you make this friend out to be a better worker than she is.

Darren_lane_2

reluctantworkingmum seems to be the person with the fairest answer.
I was all prepared to say hell No its not worth the grief but there is always the chance that the friend is now a changed person.
Avoid any remarks about how capable she'll be and focus on the points you genuinely think are strongpoints. That way the friend is happy a reference has been supplied and the potential employer hasn't been misled.

kevanf1

I have been in a similar situation as this. I was in charge of employing students at a local university. Most were great and turned up on time, worked well etc. This particular one was very often late, sometimes not turning up at all. When he was there he often spent his time catching up on course work rather than the paid work he was supposed to be doing (IT help in a computer lap). He consequently applied for another job outside the university (I did not reprimand him officially but I did mention his time keeping to him). An application for a reference came through to me. I simply told the truth that he knew his stuff IT wise (which he did to be fair) and left it at that. I simply did not mention the timekeeping.

It's worth knowing that a referee could be sued for giving a bad reference