Is this illegal?

MarkC1984

I was put on a work programme in October by the JC, which went excellent. First the manager said he wanted to keep me on permanent in a full time role, then said he could only afford to give me a Christmas temp contract then said it would be middle of January to end of February before being able to call me back in on a proper contract because he needs to know what his wage budget is. All of which I understand and accept, despite various lies he has told me which I do not want to repeat here because I will end up swearing a lot. Anyway, the following happened today.

I had to pop out this morning to pay some money into my bank as I have a DD due out on Monday with not enough funds to cover it. As I got off the bus, I bumped into one of the supervisors. She said oh come in and say hello, etc and I said no don't want to. Anyway, she hooked me by saying the manager had had a couple of calls about me last week. So that got me interested and I went in to say hello and that.

Turns out that a couple of the places I had applied to last week had called him on Friday to say they wanted a reference as I had applied and they thought I was ideal for the vacancy and just needed a reference to confirm what was on my CV was true. Manager told them that he wanted me so he wasn't giving out a reference and that they had to find someone else for the vacancies. This was all from the manager, but he still can't give me a definite start date. Surely it is illegal of him to stop employers from giving me interviews and the like by refusing to give a reference?

While I was there, I had a look at the warehouse. It was like a bomb site. Like a bomb had exploded in there and nobody had bothered even trying to pick up after it. So hoping that a start date comes soon, but not holding my breath.

Is he allowed to stop other companies from offering me interviews on the grounds that he wants me to work for him?

AP007

I am not sure what you mean by work programme as what you describe is a work for free work placement?

Anyway it legal for a company to refuse to give a reference. There is no law to make them say or do anything. Wrong maybe if they say they want to keep you but you are not really getting paid for it etc.

[Deleted User]

This is when these silly verbal chit chats should stop, I'm sorry OP your potentials should really put their requests in writing :mad:(talk about convenient) any chance you can go back to JCP/WP about it? on 1 occasion I found the jobcentre prepared to write me a reference if it of course helped get work, so just sorry for you because what employer should take the word of another when you have been in their employment less then the standard majority of probation time! (but appreciate maybe I'm going back to yesteryear there was a time when if you had only worked a job weeks you didn't dare expect a reference so I find it hard with what goes on today lack of job security should equal glowing acceptable which can still be interpreted many ways reference :doh:)

Anyway more recently I was helped through a character reference instead when it was picked up the difficulties in obtaining a certain said prev employment reference, it was then only requested dates worked apparently so there is a few ways round this, perhaps try and talk with this ex boss they may calm down and be more accepting if you grovel, explain you can't live on thin air if they could do a reference for you this once you won't bother them again, sorry like I say been there in the end it worked out ok, other then that you could do charity work to build up on the referee's you can rely on, hope it pans out whether you want to stay or go, either way I'd edit my CV and thank goodness there are still some employers that will go on face value or accept other references, ooohh just a random thought any chance you can approach a competitor if there is any?

dm1983

Sounds like jut yet more issues with this modern day slavery scheme they Tories are allowing their pals to profit from.

DorsetGirl_2

dm1983 wrote: »

Sounds like jut yet more issues with this modern day slavery scheme they Tories are allowing their pals to profit from.

It sounds more like a problem with the company (or this manager in particular) than with the WP in fairness.

getzls

Might be better without a reference, it may not say what you would like especially if it's begrudged.

Yes, the reference is meant to be fair and honest.

RichardD1970

Surly for the other employers, the manager saying that he wants you is all the reference they would need.

Can you get back in touch with the other places to let them know you are still interested?

MarkC1984

Thanks for the replies. I actually found the work placement, work programme, work experience (heard all 3 terms used whilst doing it) quite enjoyable. It's just as soon as I signed a Xmas Temp contract the lies started.

Will certainly dig out contact details for the companies tomorrow and get in touch with them on Monday. My mum said I should report them to the JC as it is stopping me from finding a job. She said if he was that keen on having me he would give me a start date, which I agree with.