Unsatisfactory reference from former employer

mikee31

So my partner who works in pre-school childcare recently started a new job 3-4 weeks ago after her last place closed due to financial problems. My partner worked there for over 10 years and was in a senior role, but the finances were dealt with by her former boss who decided on the closure.

All the staff including my partner hadn’t been properly paid for months leading up to the business closing despite wage slip’s being given to say otherwise. Finally all staff were given a months notice of the nursery closing down, no final wages were paid to staff again despite a wage slip, with no redundancy money and no P45 provided.

Whilst the new job has offered the opportunity to move on and forget the last place, the former boss has been very slow in providing a reference despite being chased for weeks by phone all/text/email. It is now obvious that the former boss is upset and bitter at their business closing and staff moving on but that was through no fault of their own.

However, a reference has today been provided for my partner and is unsatisfactory to say the least, with little information provided given her 10+ years of service, other than basic details on 100% attendance and zero sickness. She is extremely upset at this and has no idea why the reference is so limited, not showing her in a good light to her new employer.

Clearly this has made the position at her new place of employment somewhat uncertain during a period of probation where she is being assessed in a senior position of childcare and leadership of staff.

Further, given the unsatisfactory reference she has received, she herself cannot give a reference to some of the staff she has recommended to her new workplace, leaving their positions in jeopardy as well. The former boss has refused to give these staff a reference at all. 

Unfortunately as my partner was essentially second in charge at her last place there isn’t/wasn’t anyone else senior who would be able to provide an employment reference.

I’ve searched the internet for advice but given that a) the former employer has closed their business and b) isn’t responding to calls/emails/texts, it’s not clear how this can be resolved. Any help/advice would be appreciated.

comeandgo

Many ex employers just confirm the person worked for them and the start date and end date, there is nothing wrong with that.  

mikee31

Thanks for the reply. The problem is the new employer was expecting more than just the basics after 10+ years of service, particularly given the senior position within childcare. It’s just not a good look to her new employer but I appreciate that this is the position that some former employers can and will take.

TheMilkmansDad

the minimum a reference should include is start and end date and job role employed as. That's it.

What has her new employers said about the reference? You may need to point out to them that they seem to have provided the minimum requirement. It may be best to speak to them and clarify if the reference causes issues and if so, what can be done bearing in mind the previous employers lack of response.

Maybe a personal reference from another senior at the previous employers may assist?

Dakta

As above, most professional places will just confirm dates and that's about it.  It's not an unsatisfactory reference it's just not a very detailed one. It's totally valid though.

Not sure why someone who ran a business that collapsed would be that mithered that staff we moving on either - if they could add any value to the business by not moving on you could understand but the business is dead. People moving on should be a relief.

mikee31

Thanks. As she was 2nd in charge there were no others of a similar or more senior level other than the former boss.

The new employer are a much more professional outfit which is good, but they’re also taking the limited reference as being somewhat concerning. Although they have said that my partner is performing well in the few weeks she’s been there so you would hope it wasn’t an issue.

Its just also very disappointing for the other new staff who cannot seem to get a reference.

Dakta

If she's working there already I'm not sure either why they are getting so hung up on her reference, they now have her doing the task and the fact you've got something out of a defunct company is good going.

Where I work currently, which is quite professional I struggled to get references from my last place, not so much that it had gone under, they were just not as professional or organised and I don't think they could be bothered responding - in the end I was asked to sign some kind of form to to confirm the dates of my employment as they'd given up trying. It wasn't really an obstacle.

mikee31

Thanks all. It’s just very worrying for her and frustrating after everything that she and other staff have had to put up with.

The former boss has lied about money, treated staff like rubbish in regards to wages and hasn’t even the decency to let everyone move forward by providing P45s or a good reference, when it was their own decision to close the business. 

theoretica

Is the new employer aware that the closed business is refusing to provide a reference at all for the other staff?  It might be helpful to her to make sure the new employer is aware of this - and that it shows the previous employer is not interested in giving references.

Dakta

Not trying to defend the owner as they don't sound like they've acted well but just to be devils advocate it can be really hard when you hit financial trouble to know what to do - if you stop people working as funds are tight to pay them you don't earn any money and it snowballs, so you got to try and do whats right based on what you thinks going to happen - for limited companies  you also have to avoid trading when insolvent as well so sometimes the decision to close is not always in the owners hands and it's more a case of continuing would be breach of the law.

But it's by the by, I'd just lay the cards on the table with the new firm - you (the new firm) wanted a reference, you have one. Here's the contact details of the owner if you want to try and chase but the company went under so good luck.

It all kinda sucks but it does look like things will get better- reference issue is unfortunate but its hardly anything you can do anything about - new employer ought to understand.

Thrugelmir

Bad mouthing (the old employer) then complaining about the lack of a detailed reference might grate with some people. Managing a business in financial distress isn’t easy. Bottom line is that it’s business and nothing personal. Unpaid wages etc can be claimed for. So there shouldn’t be any financial loss to the employee.  Standard practice in many organisations is to keep references to the bare minimum. Avoids any unnecessary and unwanted aggravation.