Some Sound Advice Please

[sb78]

I have recently secured a new job in a secondary school (Academy not local authority) I have had the job offer and signed the contract. I am due to start in September. I currently work for the Local Authority as a Youth Worker and have done so for four years. When I applied for my new job the application form asked for two references, one being from my most recent employer. It also stated that they would normally ask for references prior to interview and there was no option to opt out of this. I did not want my current line manager to know that I was applying for a new job, in case I didn't get it and they had contacted her with a reference request prior to interview. I believe this would have made working with her very awkward after, as she is not the most understanding manager in the world!! I therefore asked another manager in the workplace, who has managed me when my line manager has been on annual leave or off sick and I also asked another member of staff from our department to write me a reference. They were both happy to do this and after a successful interview and two brilliant references, I got the job. When I told my current line manager that I had a new job and handed my notice in, she wanted to know who my references were as she said she MUST be one as it is local authority procedures that a reference had to be written by my line manager. I then called my new employers and asked if they would send a reference form to my line manager so she could write me one, which they agreed, but weren't worried about receiving, as they already had two good references for me and contracts etc signed. My line manager was very angry that I had asked 2 other people for references and not her and even though I explained the predicament I was in at the time, because I didn't want her to know I was going for an interview for a job and if I didn't get it, I felt it would make working for her very difficult, she took it to our county manager who called me in for a meeting. She told me that I was very wrong for doing this and that I should have asked my line manager for a reference prior to interview! She said that the reference from the other manager in our department should not have been sent or counted and she could make life very difficult for me as whether I could still go to my new job in September! I feel very threatened and have spent the last four years being scared of my line manager, yet have stuck it out and NEVER had a day off sick in the whole 4 years. I am sick with worry and haven't slept it eaten for a week, wondering if my current employer will do something to lose me my new job or just the general fact that I still have to work for my line manager for another 2 months before I leave. I know she will make life very very difficult for me and what doesn't help is she is friends out of work with the county manager, making me feel that they are both going to stick together and make my working days a complete misery. I have been to the doctors as I am so ill with stress and my GP has signed me off work. However, I am too scared to take time off work in case my current managers do something to jeopardise my new job, such as ring or write to them and tell them that I am off sick for a while. Can anybody phrase help or advise what I can or should do. Would appreciate it greatly! Thank you in advance

[woofgang]

are you still going to be working for a local authority? Are you a member of a union?

[factor-fiction]

When is the earliest date you can leave- how much notice do you need to give? It may be worth leaving asap and having a summer break if you can't face being in work. Or just go in, smile and keep your head down.

The references issue is not really your problem - the person who gave the reference was the one who shouldn't have done so

[Zacs-Master]

If this doesn't constitute bullying in the workplace, I don't know what does. Appealing and vindictive way to treat people. I would contact ACAS for advice. They're very good.

[Zacs-Master]

Appalling.

[sb78]

I'm not a member of a union, but wish I was right now!! I am going to a secondary school which is now an academy, so don't think it's local authority? And will definitely contact ACAS. Thanks everyone :)

[factor-fiction]

If you want to complain about bullying though you need to think about what you want to get out of it. The process may be stressful.
If you are starting at the Academy in September you only have 10 weeks left at most. Maybe leaving a bit earlier and taking a break would mean only 8 weeks.
I can't see how your present manager could prevent your move

[Peter Pedant]

I think if your new employer raises it -
you tell them what you feared would happen, happened.

This is not uncommon - my brother was invited to an interview and told the only reason why we are interviewing you is to tell you not to use one of your referees, [ who had agreed to support him in his application and then written a truly crap reference ]

When I was on an interview panel, I ripped open candidate X's reference and the writer said I dont know why I am writing this: he has accepted a job elsewhere. [He hadnt]

and for a third job - I commented to the panel as an interviewer, I spoke to Y the referee and he was less enthusiastic than I thought he should be. Has he written a cross-eyed reference sort of like: if you get candidate A to work for you, you will indeed be fortunate ? HR said yes, and I said we dont have to look at references do we ? [we didnt]

so good luck

[sb78]

I did tell my new employers what had happened and they said that unless the 3rd reference they were about to receive (from my line manager) had any child protection issues on it, then they weren't interested! They said that they liked me in interview and are looking forward to me starting in September, they did comment that my current employers were being quite nasty towards me and for that they felt sorry for me! I think my main problem is I am now signed off sick and daren't take the time off as I definitely believe that my line manager will make my life a misery and I am terrified that she will contact my new employer and tell them that I am off sick at work due to stress! I just don't know what to do, seems such a shame when I have worked there for four years without taking a single day off work due to illness or childcare etc. thank you everyone for your support and advice, it's really very appreciated

[Peter Pedant]

get better and start your new job
hope you do well
PP

[DrunkOnChocolate]

I would just be confident and go for it. if you don't try you wont know!