Job Reference Eeek

[numnum]

I've been offered a really good job and they are checking up on references. I put two down but as i'm now self employed they want my most recent

I dont nothing wrong in that job but just worried what they will say. The boss was horrible to me and i turned up to work every day while pregnant, was sicek 5 or more times a day and still done my job then they started messing me about in my job once pregnant then eventually made me redudant when due to go back

[dizmouk2009]

Do you want my advice. Contact the new employer and explain this to them before they hear it from your previous (non self employed) employer.

I have been in the same position before and I've always been honest. Get to them first before the other employer does. They will like your honesty.

[boxtops]

Numnum, these days references really are very limited - a dodgy reference can leave the referee open to claims etc. All I've been asked for recently is what was the person's sickness rate, timekeeping etc like, and would I re-employ. No personal statements at all.

[ummmm]

I thought they weren't allowed to give negative references?

[boxtops]

This is the case, ummm.

[dizmouk2009]

As far as I know ummmm if you are asked for your last two previous job references you have to give them, negative or positive.

[Hopkirk]

I would do the opposite, say nothing and wait and see what happens.

Chances are the old employer will just confirm your employment and no more. Very few will risk putting anything bad in writing, for fear of it coming back on them.

Many have a policy of simply confirming employment, and if they are asked the reason for you leaving they will say redundancy.

[ummmm]

Diz, I mean the old employer is not allowed to give negative references, not that she shouldn't give her last two.

[mccfluff]

our policy is to confirm that they were employed, the dates of employment and their job title & i think final salary but that's it

[jno]

the old days of ambiguous references are gone.

"She leaves us as she joined us - fired with enthusiasm."

[Hopkirk]

I like that, Jno

[dizmouk2009]

ummmm I didn't realise that. So even if you were an absolutely useless member of staff the employer is not allowed to state that to the new employer?

[ummmm]

No...but I believe that's a good thing. If bosses don't get on with people they could give a malicious reference.

[dizmouk2009]

It also means you could really test the limits of your employer and have them dislike you but not be able to fire you because technically you've done nothing wrong. My mate (well ex mate, you know the story) left one of his jobs and everyone hated him, even his employer. He never put that job down as a reference because he thought that had the new employer contacted the old one he would of said how much he disliked him.

[dizmouk2009]

I change my initial comment then. Say nothing like Hopkirk advised.