Reference needed from ex employer (after dismissal)

zippybungle

My Husband lost his job last month (which he had only been in for 8 months). The reason for job loss is that his employer was not happy with his performance.

My Husband has now been offered a new job, but he needs a reference from his ex employer. (he actually has to get 3 references - from his last 3 employers)

He called his ex boss on Thursday last week and left a message asking him to give him a call, he also sent a text message on Friday to him asking if he could give him a call and mentioned why he wanted to talk to him. So far his boss has not returned his calls and I am now worried that the job offer could be withdrawn if we do not get this sorted asap.

I am also worried what the ex boss might include in the reference (ie. he was dismissed), would it be wrong to ask if they could just confirm the dates he started employment and date he left, position held and the main responsibilities he had? (he did not lose his job due to gross misconduct)

Zippy x

keyser666

Does the company have a HR dept?

Think you have gone about this totally the wrong way. I would have been inclined to include them in the reference and would not have bothered phoning them let alone text them. Quite likely they wont bother to respond as some companies dont to reference requests unless they are somewhat vindictive.

Is there anyone he worked with there that could "give" him a reference?

BobQ

You cannot insist on a reference and if provided you have no right to demand its content is restricted unless it was agreed as part of his dismissal. The content of the reference if provided cannot be challenged unless its libellous (ie untrue).

Its also possible that the lack of a reply is due to other reasons (leave, busy) or that the employer would rather not provide a bad reference but does not feel able to give a good one.

Maybe write a letter requesting one and give the new employer a copy. If you fear the content might lose him the job it may be better that no reference is provided.

whitewing

Businesses need to extend professional courtesies to each other and one way of doing this is by providing references.

References also need to be factual.

I think you do not need to worry. Just put the employer's details down and let the new company put in the request.

Most bosses get to where they are by maintaining a long term view of life, and most bosses I know won't seek to stop someone being employable elsewhere - apart from anything else, someone in a new job can move on from any issues they had and so can the old company.

zippybungle

Thanks for your reply, it is only s very small company so no big HR department as such. The ex boss is the man who owns the company and was responsible for hiring / firing and was the person my Husband had to report to.

A condition of starting the new job is that he must have a reference

Zippy x

whitewing

That's good because the ex-boss will understand why your husband was not a best fit with his own company (which probably had a lot to do with ex-boss's personality), and will be able to highlight his good points to the new company.

Assume your husband will get a perfectly usable reference from his old workplace.

In the unlikely event that he doesn't, then come back on here and we will help you further. Also, don't forget that what may seem terrible to you because it is so personal will be 'human' to an employer - we don't generally hire robots!

[Deleted User]

zippybungle wrote: »

A condition of starting the new job is that he must have a reference

I find myself in a similar position, don't worry I'm sure I'd have done something equally crazy like trying to contact past employer!
I appreciate I could be worrying over something and nothing but what I would like to know is what happens if the deemed 'suitable' references aren't received by the time we come to start our new jobs?

Sorry for hijack

BobQ

Deleted%20User wrote: »

I find myself in a similar position, don't worry I'm sure I'd have done something equally crazy like trying to contact past employer!
I appreciate I could be worrying over something and nothing but what I would like to know is what happens if the deemed 'suitable' references aren't received by the time we come to start our new jobs?

Sorry for hijack

That is for the new employer to say. If they genuinely require a reference from the most recent employer, they will almost certainly have couched the job offer in terms like "We are pleased to offer you the position of (whatever) in this firm, conditional upon a suitable reference from your last employer on the terms defined below...."

IF the offer is conditional on anything then they can withdraw the offer at any time if the condition is not met. Even then they can dismiss you on day 1 without giving a reason.

Of course as its their condition they can choose to let you start work. If they do, the longer the situation goes on they will probably rely on their experience of you as an employee rather than the reference if it is ever provided, unless of course it states that the employee is untrustworthy handling money and has been employed in accounts!

makeyourdaddyproud

You can dress it up as much as you like, but so long as references are required, one bad job retires you involuntarily.

The system needs changing.

Some people say honesty is the best policy but can you really say "I was sacked because I was rubbish at my job, but honestly, I can do better this time!".

It should be ILLEGAL to provide or ask for references, only CRB checks.

makeyourdaddyproud

Also is it fair to condemn a man or woman for one bad job? What if they have children? Is the tax payer supposed to pay benefits indefinitely because one employer frivolously decides he or she isn't good enough, or because they can't turn the thumbscrews down low enough and extract more profit for the boss's new Porche Cayenne?

Takeaway_Addict

makeyourdaddyproud wrote: »

You can dress it up as much as you like, but so long as references are required, one bad job retires you involuntarily.

The system needs changing.

Some people say honesty is the best policy but can you really say "I was sacked because I was rubbish at my job, but honestly, I can do better this time!".

It should be ILLEGAL to provide or ask for references, only CRB checks.

Well it doesn't, it will make it harder as it should, why should the decent employees be on the same level as someone who's committed gross misconduct.

Also, why should the employer have to risk their business on hiring someone who is a higher risk to their business. At the end of the day this comes down to the choice of the employee, their actions are something they have a choice over unlike protected characteristics so it shouldn't get the same protection in employment.

Being sacked for gross misconduct is different to being let go in the first two years, employers are far more accepting of the latter but being dismissed for gross misconduct means the employee messed up to such an extent they were dismissed for GM so why shouldn't an employer know this when making the decision?