Has anyone out there had BAD problems with an ex-employer trashing them when asked for a reference?

Question

Has anyone out there had BAD problems with an ex-employer trashing them when asked for a reference? Help!!!?
Been trying to get a good job for 2 years. I think my prior boss is saying a bunch of crap about me but I can't prove it. Ugh.
I am in FL, and it is illegal to record phone conversations. Inadmissable in Court. I can't stand this ******. I have had temp jobs for past two years. Major stress on my marriage.

Oh, you don't know how bad it is. He actually got the cops involved and filed a trespass against me (I had not even been on the premises) but cops were crooked and now I have a trespass on my record. He lied, and I am screwed. Due to nature of my work, I cannot NOT list that place as a reference. It's next to impossible to PROVE slander, when you can't record the conversation. A friend can't call, inadmissable in court, it would be seen as leading the defendant to say something slanderous. Yes, believe it or not, it HAS kept me from getting a job. My other references are steller. I did a great job, and now I'm screwed and can't get past it.

Answer 1

Stop putting them down as a reference.

Answer 2

It is illegal for your boss, former or otherwise, to trash you to anybody. The only thing an employer can say legally is when employment started, when it ended, and what your ending salary was.

You are currnently allowing your PAST boss to rule your FUTURE. This is nonsense.

What you do is you change your resume to reflect that you have been working for a temporary agency for the last two years. After all, you HAVE been working for a temp agency for the last two years, and this is totally accurate and honest. As for work experience, you list the type of work you did on your temp assignments as your basic responsibilities, because that IS your basic responsibility while you're on the job, temp or otherwise.

This is totally honest and totally legal. If you have worked for several agencies for the last two years, list the agency that you have done the most work for and put your last full time employer further down in the list.

When you go on an interview and your potential employer asks why you've been temping for the last two years, you can honestly tell them that you wanted and needed the freedom of a temporary job for personal reasons. You do not have to get into why it was a personal issue, and most people won't touch personal issues with a ten foot pole.

You can even say that you did not accept permanent employment as you did not think it was fair to a permanent employer to take a position that you could not whole-heartedly commit to while you were dealing with family issues, but now that those issues have been resolved, you can commit yourself fully to a full time position. The potential employer would see this as integrity on your part and give you a better shot of employment. DON'T get into the problems with the past employer; that will ensure you will not get a job.

None of this is a lie. You HAVE been dealing with a family issue -- your ex-boss. It HAS taken time to deal with it, and you could NOT have possibly committed to a permanent job while you're stressed out about keeping a job due to what your boss might have said, and the stress at home that that worry has caused.

You can also say honestly that if you really had been ready to go back to work full time, you would have thought of this yourself.

Now that you have a game plan, you can even switch agencies and leave all this BS behind you.

Now fix up your resume and go get a PHAT job!

Answer 3

That is illegal! They can only say if you were fired or quit. If you got fired, maybe that is all they are saying and the places you are applying to don't want you cuz of that. Or if you quit, did you give any notice? They cannot say bad things about you. Have you had other jobs you could use as references instead? I know I keep a few of my past jobs off my resume. Sorry it is stressing your marriage. I am a temp also. Well until next week, I just got a new job but they didn't even call any references! Sometimes they don't. good luck.

Answer 4

Yeah, I've had that problem. I have to let people know up front what will be said, and why. I explain there was a falling out, and that person still holds some hard feelings. Let them know that other people who can vouch for your work ethic, like employers before then, or the companies since then. If it's been 2 years, I seriously think you either aren't looking very much and relying on temp jobs too much, or something else is problematic. One bad review from a previous employer shouldn't hold you up for 2 years.

Answer 5

Yes, and there isn't much you can do about it other than explain to your intended employer that this old employer will probably bad mouth you. You must, however, have a good explanation why.
You can't just say that he is an ****** and doesn't like you.
You have to take a professional approach, and that way you may even get to impress the person you are trying to get the job with.
Be up front and don't whine about it.
Be prepared to approach the situation before you even get to the interview, think about how to tell them.
Attitude is everything!

Answer 6

In most states it is illegal for a former employer to do this. Most of the time the only information former employers are allowed to give is how long you worked there and if you quit or were fired.

If you are not sure if this is the case, get a friend or family member to call your former employer asking for a reference. If they are bad mouthing you that person can serve as a witness. Then get a lawyer.

Answer 7

It's illegal to give a bad reference.
Your past employer is only suppose to say you worked there from this date to that date & your duties.

You should stop giving your past supervisor as a reference for now. Give people the # to Human Resources or a former co-worker that will give you a good reference. Call them & let them know people will be calling & you expect they will be fair in their assessment of you.

Go to your local unemployment office & see if they could help you find something.

Answer 8

If an employee makes any negative comments about you.which you are denied employment you have the recourse to sue the former employee. This is because the former employee is preventing you from geting gainful employment.

You will need to get the prospective employer to admit that a poor reference is the reason for your failure to get the job. This may be difficult.

If you are unable to get them to admit this is the reason, stop putting your former employer down as a reference.

Answer 9

I don't know what state you live in, but in the state of Georgia an employer is only allowed to give the dates that you worked for them and whether or not you are rehire-able. I would look for an attorney and see if you can sue him. Most times all it takes is a phone call or letter from an attorney to stop such.

Answer 10

It is also against the law for a previous boss to say anything bad about you. If you could only prove that he was saying bad things, then you could take his butt to court.

When you apply for a job, don't list the job, if you think he is saying something bad about you. I wad fired once and I rarely lis that on my app, when they ask me if I have ever been fired, I tell them yes, but it was a bad situation and was glad to get out of there. Normally they leave it alone.