Untrue reference

[Neenee]

my friend has been sacked after being in his current job for the last 3 months, due to his previous employer giving an untrue reference, in which he said that his attendance was only average, even though he was working on average 60hrs per week and never lost a day in 2 years. Can anyone point us in the right direction as to his next course of action
He is trying to obtain a copy of the reference to see what other lies it says
Cheers

[buildersmate]

Job offers are often made only after taking up references. Then the offer of employment is made, and accepted by the employee. Are you saying this all happened, then 3 months after all this, the current employer is maintaining it has info saying the attendence was poor from previous employment? Sounds like a feeble reason to deciding to terminate employment to me - blaming the reference. However with only 3 months service, your friend has limited redress under Employment Law anyway. Even if the current employer had not used this a reason for dismissal, until he/she had 12 months service, employer can dismiss provided it gives Notice (does not apply to dismissal for reasons of pregnancy, racial discrimination etc. though)

[seatrout]

I would have thought that after 3 months the current employer would be in aposition to make up his own mind.

I was once in a similar position - a crap reference after a few months working. My employer kept me on because he had made his own mind up by then and if I had been so awful why did it take 3 months for my previous employer to raise it in a reference.

Sounds like the refence was just an excuse to dismiss him