Should I give a reference to a former colleague

[Deleted User]

Dear all,

Two week ago I received a call from a former colleague [my supervisor] who ready left the company for almost 5 months because of inappropriate attitudes at work, telling me that she's put me down as her reference, as she knows our line manager would never ever vouch for her.

I worked together with her like 2 months, and I thought I only need to give a reference via phone. However I received an email on Tuesday asking me to fill out a form with company head-letter etc.
I called her up after receipt of the email saying that I do not think I can provide such documents. She just told me it is not a big deal, and just do it.

I am honestly worried whether or not I should fill out the form and I do not think I should use the company head-letter/stamp etc without asking my current line manager first. I never act as a reference before and I really do not know what I should do at the moment. Any input will be highly appreciated!

hop3y

[quote=[Deleted User];discussion/5134093]Dear all,

Two week ago I received a call from a former colleague [my supervisor] who ready left the company for almost 5 months because of inappropriate attitudes at work, telling me that she's put me down as her reference, as she knows our line manager would never ever vouch for her.

I worked together with her like 2 months, and I thought I only need to give a reference via phone. However I received an email on Tuesday asking me to fill out a form with company head-letter etc.
I called her up after receipt of the email saying that I do not think I can provide such documents. She just told me it is not a big deal, and just do it.

I am honestly worried whether or not I should fill out the form and I do not think I should use the company head-letter/stamp etc without asking my current line manager first. I never act as a reference before and I really do not know what I should do at the moment. Any input will be highly appreciated![/QUOTE]

Ask the company you work for - or your manager. Do you want to put your job/career in jeapardy?

[Deleted User]

Dear hop3y,

Thank you so much for your speedy reply!
My current line manager really does not like her and has no ideas of this at all. I agreed to do it mainly because my formal supervisor helped me before and I thought I only need to vouch for her over the phone. However it is quite different from what I expected and to be honest, I am feeling quite unwell for the fact that she asked me to do it even though she should know that I cannot do it as it can ruin my job.

BoJangles_2

[quote=[Deleted User];67210861]Dear hop3y,

Thank you so much for your speedy reply!
My current line manager really does not like her and has no ideas of this at all. I agreed to do it mainly because my formal supervisor helped me before and I thought I only need to vouch for her over the phone. However it is quite different from what I expected and to be honest, I am feeling quite unwell for the fact that she asked me to do it even though she should know that I cannot do it as it can ruin my job.[/QUOTE]

Depends on what the questions are, maybe you could give a brief line of what it was like to work with this person but if they need to know sickness records etc. then that will have to come from hr surely...

Voyager2002

Does your company have an HR department? Forward to reference request to them: HR generally give references that say no more than confirming that the person worked for the company, and when, and that they were not dismissed for misconduct.

You could also send a personal reference, giving your home address, explaining that you knew the person at work, and not answering any questions that you are unable to answer.

Mojisola

[quote=[Deleted User];discussion/5134093]
Two week ago I received a call from a former colleague [my supervisor] who ready left the company for almost 5 months because of inappropriate attitudes at work, telling me that she's put me down as her reference, as she knows our line manager would never ever vouch for her.

I called her up after receipt of the email saying that I do not think I can provide such documents. She just told me it is not a big deal, and just do it. [/QUOTE]

[quote=[Deleted User];67210861] However it is quite different from what I expected and to be honest, I am feeling quite unwell for the fact that she asked me to do it even though she should know that I cannot do it as it can ruin my job.[/QUOTE]

Just say no. She can't force you to fill in the forms.

[Deleted User]

Hi BoJangles,

To be honest I really should not be the one to fill out the form as in the form it asks whether we would like to reemploy her and why she left, her daily duties at work and job title etc. None of this should be given by me and I do not think I hold the correct information too.

Sharon87

Explain to the new company you're happy to give a reference over the phone, but you are too busy to fill in the forms!

Mojisola

Voyager2002 wrote: »

You could also send a personal reference, giving your home address, explaining that you knew the person at work, and not answering any questions that you are unable to answer.

I wouldn't want to give a good reference to someone I hardly know, had 'inappropriate attitudes' at work and has put pressure on me after I've made it clear that I don't want to.

[Deleted User]

Voyager2002 wrote: »

Does your company have an HR department? Forward to reference request to them: HR generally give references that say no more than confirming that the person worked for the company, and when, and that they were not dismissed for misconduct.

You could also send a personal reference, giving your home address, explaining that you knew the person at work, and not answering any questions that you are unable to answer.

We do have a HR department. However she is not willing to do it at all as she does not want anyone else in our company knowing that she is looking for work.

[Deleted User]

Thank you for all your help. I think I will just have to say no to her unless I can give a reference for her over the phone.