Worried about reference from my old employer, help!

Br0416

Hi,

My previous employer was trying to manage me out of my job and I left before they commenced a disciplinary. I confirmed with HR before I resigned that leaving would mean nothing would show on my record for future employers but I'm not convinced. I'm sure they were going to sack me on the day I resigned, they pretty much told me that but I never had any kind of formal disciplinary and I was told nothing had been recorded when I resigned. I'm now returning to a previous employer where I worked for 7 years but I'm worried that my latest employer are going to make me look bad or refuse a reference. If I officially did nothing wrong on record, can they legally mention anything negative?

I'd appreciate anyone's thoughts

Thank you

Guest101

Yes, ofcourse.


They have to be truthful, however truthful can be:


"Unfortunately X didn't meet our standard of work"

sangie595

And nobody can insist that they provide a reference, so yes, they can refuse to give one.

Br0416

I'm not so concerned whether they say I didn't meet their standards, I'm wanting to establish whether they can mention any unrecorded disciplinary action. I didn't give the morons the opportunity to go down that route and I never had a review meeting discussing disciplinary and therefore I'd assume it can't be mentioned

Gavin83

They can mention pending disciplinary (if you leave during the process) and they can conduct a disciplinary after you leave. However they won't say they were considering disciplining you.

I'd say it's only a problem if you've committed a serious offence, either an illegal act or a regulated job that could lead to you losing your licence. If it was just for being poor at your job I see this as very unlikely.

Guest101

"Unfortunetly BR0416 left the organisation before a date could be set for him to attend a disciplinary meeting, he/she resigned the same day we notified him/her of the process"

ScorpiondeRooftrouser

Guest101 wrote: »

"Unfortunetly BR0416 left the organisation before a date could be set for him to attend a disciplinary meeting, he/she resigned the same day we notified him/her of the process"

It's unlikely any HR department would go to the trouble of writing all that.

Far more likely that HR assured them there wouldn't be anything on the reference because they know they barely put anything on the reference. And if they are asked whether there were any disciplinary issues they will answer "no" because it's far easier for them in every way.

In almost all these cases where people are worrying about bad references, the important thing is that it's much easier for the former employer just to say nothing. If it was easier to screw over the ex-employee than not, they would screw them over, whether it was deserved or not, and whether they liked them or not. But if it's easier not to, they won't.

[Deleted User]

Hi OP

The growing new way seems not to acknowledge references so I am in agreement with last poster.

Nothing has to make an employer respond so it's really not what can be written.

Mr.Generous

get someone to contact them for a reference for you - a friend or family member that's thinking of taking you on. Happened to me years ago when I sacked someone for theft, I fell for it and told it straight!! Later found out it was one of his mates.

Br0416

Basically they were looking to extend my probation period so I kicked off and got myself in trouble with my mouth. I did ask HR before I left and they advised me to resign and assured me it wouldn't effect future employment prospects but of course I have no way of proving that conversation took place.

Br0416

That's just it, I was never informed of a disciplinary. I knew it was coming so resigned before it occurred