Unsuitable References

[IKnow73]

Hi, I was recently employed at a big name company who I had worked for about 1 month until they terminated my contract. The job offer was on the condition of suitable references being obtained however my last 2 employers have given me bad refs which is difficult for me to understand because I was always on time, did what was asked of me, kept my nose clean etc & I left on good terms with everybody. The thing is I always thought it was illegal to give bad refs & why did my last employer wait a month before terminating my contract. Also now I am having trouble obtaining work refs because I feel my previous employers will not tell the truth. What legal action can I take against my previous empoyers to prove what was written is a pack of lies.

[Ethel]

It is not illegal to give bad references - it is illegal to give dishonest ones.

Contact your previous employers in the first instance and ask for an explanation.

Your last employer probably waited for the references to come through, and then made his own mind up.

[Lil O'lady]

It's reasonable to ask for a copy of your references from the person who gave them - it's also a time when you need union protection so if you aren't in a union, you probably need to be now.

[Twenty20]

Ask for copies of the references. It's strange that both your last two employers gave you bad references. It does make it seem as if there was something wrong.

If the references are correct then there's nothing you can do. If they are incorrect then you may have a case against the company who provided them.

Your last employer was entitled to terminate your contract without giving you a reason as you'd been employed less than 12 months, so you would have no case against them.

Personally, I'd give a bit more thought as to what went wrong with the previous two companies.