what can a company say about you in a reference

jamminjamaica

Hi folks

i have a question. after being offered a new job the new employer is seeking a reference off my last employer.

i left my last job after my contract was not renewed after my probationery period. the fact of the maater is my line manager made things very difficult for me and complained to everyone that i missed deadlines and that i did not communicate with her. (she was never in the office) anyway thats a whole other VERY long story.

I just want to know what my old employer can say in a reference to the new company.

i would appreciate some advice.

wabbit02

I don't believe that they can state anything that isn't in your employment record, i.e. they cant say: she was off ill allot, they can say: in 6 months employment she had 4 weeks absent due to illness.

I also believe that they can only give the same reasons as they gave to you for not continuing your employment. Basically they aren't allowed to give any subjective responses, so as long as they just said, "we dont think your fitting in" then that should be all they say back to the new employer.

LittleVoice

Most companies will say as little as possible. (And for most occupations they are not even under an obligation to provide a reference at all.)

Perhaps the most important thing will be that they can say that, to the best of their knowledge and belief, you behaved with honesty and integrity.

tishybabe

As far as I am aware a company isn't allowed to give "bad" reference as such.
They can refuse to give reference and then the future employer will work out that the employer wasn't happy with the employee but can't give reasons as to why.

Andy_L

They can say what the like in a reference. However if it isn't true they open themselves up to being sued for libel.
As a result many firms limit themselves to saying very little beyond "this employee had a satisfactory work & attendance record"

jamminjamaica

i just hope they dont ruin my chances of getting this job. the company were so horrible to me while i worked for them. somehow they are still managing to make things difficult now that i am trying to move on.

debsy42

When approached for a reference very recently, my old employer simply stated the dates that I worked for them and that's it !!! I phoned HR as I was a bit confused and they told me that's all they put in them, no sickness information, no attendance record, nothing else !! I think therefore you shouldn't worry too much as they can only state facts, not opinion.

ohreally

Andy L is spot on, the reference can reflect areas you may rather it didn't, however it must be factual.

LittleVoice

Some reference seekers ask whether the potential employee had been involved in a disciplinary procedure. Are you concerned on that front? It sounded as though they may have been difficult but not that you were going through a formal process. As debsy says, very many employers simply ignore those sorts of questions in any case and just stick with facts of "jamminjamaica was employed by us from [date] to [date] as [job title]. We have had no reason to doubt her honesty." and leave it at that.

I know of one large company which won't comment on an individual's performance saying that jobs with them will be unique and not comparable with jobs elsewhere (whether than be as a technical research specialist or a catering assistant). So you get nothing other than the dates and honesty statement.

Oldernotwiser

debsy42 wrote: »

When approached for a reference very recently, my old employer simply stated the dates that I worked for them and that's it !!! I phoned HR as I was a bit confused and they told me that's all they put in them, no sickness information, no attendance record, nothing else !! I think therefore you shouldn't worry too much as they can only state facts, not opinion.

Did you get the job? That sounds like the sort of reference you're given when they'd like to give you areally good slating if they were able to!

debsy42

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Did you get the job? That sounds like the sort of reference you're given when they'd like to give you areally good slating if they were able to!

LOL, I applied for two jobs with the company and was offered both of them in spite of the reference from my old employer. I managed to speak with an old manager who did a verbal reference that afternoon. I was made redundant along with loads of other people so i don't think they had any axe to grind with me :eek: