I live in England. I have heard that it is but I am unsure. I had two months off sick with a stomach disorder and when I went back to work I resigned after a week and didn't work my notice. What sort of reference will they give me? Can they give a bad one? Serious answers only please.
(If you insist giving on non-serious answers at least make them funny)
2006-09-21 02:22:30 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Business & Finance ➔ Careers & Employment
yes it is illegal however, the company you worked for can contact your future employer via phone and tell them anything that they cannot write down
2006-09-21 02:26:08 · answer #1 · answered by missree 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No it is not illegal for companies to give bad references. In fact, companies are under no legal obligation to provide a reference and are under no obligation to provide good or bad references. Most companies, however, will only provide a date you worked there and perhaps some vague comment about how they enjoyed working with you. Most emplyers don't want to take the risk of a lawsuit if you do not get the job because of what they say, and they do not want to risk a lawsuit if you are hired on the strength of the reference and you turn out to be the wrong person for the job.
2006-09-21 10:09:23 · answer #2 · answered by Penfold 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, it is not illegal.
If a reference is sent to someone, then the sender wants details of wether the person is a good employee or not. Technically, They should write the truth, God or Bad.
However, a lot of companies are very scared of legal trouble, and don't want the risk that if you found out what they said, and you could somehow prove they are slandering you, then they would face charges for Libel.
Because of this fear that companies have for being truthful about bad employees, they give Generalised and vague responses on the bad ones to get it done with.
"Erica Jones did work her from March to November of 2005 as an Admin Assistant".
In contrast, the good ones get more embelished responses:
"Robert Howards did outstanding work in their time here from April 05 to January 06, and took great care in the excellent presentation of his work. I see no reason why he would not make a brilliant addition to your team".
I think your employer could say something like this:
Jane Doe was an excellent employee with good timekeeping and attention to detail. It is unfortunate that she had to leave for Medical reasons, but we see no reason that she would not make an excellent employee when she is fit to return to work".
2006-09-21 07:02:57 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have come across malcious false bad references being given. Causes quite a lot of trouble.
I have also discovered good references being given to an out and out crook, using a standard reply given to all people who have left the firm.
As an employer I do not take a blind bit of notice of them. But that does not mean I will not do research into all my business dealings. On a subcontract, I might take a chance on my own judgement, But if I was employing anybody, I would take great care.
2006-09-21 02:36:44 · answer #4 · answered by Perseus 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they would be careful not to write anything libellous, but as the other answer says, things can be mentioned off the record. Another method is for the reference to say merely that 'so and so worked here between [date] and [date]' and nothing else - this would be understood as meaning that there was nothing good to say about you.
They're certainly not going to give you a good reference as you let them down, unless you are on good terms with your line manager and they understood why you left and were sympathetic?
2006-09-21 02:31:26 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The usual way that companies display their displeasure is not to give a reference at all, and that refusal to offer a reference generally speaks volumes.
Another way of giving a non-reference is for them to simply state that they have 'no adverse reports on their files'. That means what it says, you were a fairly unremarkable and instantly forgettable employee.
2006-09-21 02:39:29 · answer #6 · answered by Phish 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They can't give a bad reference, but then can give the bare minimum.
If your new employer asks specific questions ie Was he/she always ontime for work, they can answer truthfully!
Otherwise they only have to stick to the bare minimum, you worked there from x to x, your job title and role.
Go on tell us what you did to make you worried about your ref? Did you pee in the boss's coffee before you left... go on tell!
2006-09-21 02:34:10 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Illegal or not, there is no companies in Europe who give you the ref. of that kind in written form. If you are afraid to use a reference latter of some one you know,will speak bad about u.Do not use it. (cheers from SE)
2006-09-21 02:36:07 · answer #8 · answered by ghreewala 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course it's not illegal, but they can't give a bad one if you were off for medical reasons. If you did a good job while you were there then you have nothing to worry about.
2006-09-21 02:40:20 · answer #9 · answered by larry365 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are not allowed to slag you off. However on a lot of reference forms, it has would you employ this person again, so if they say no that may go against you. It also has how many days off sick on some of them. However if its a bog standard letter reference from HR, you should be ok.
2006-09-21 02:31:53 · answer #10 · answered by Annie M 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There is no obligation on a company to give a reference at all, however if they do give a reference it must be honest and not misleading.
2006-09-21 02:33:50 · answer #11 · answered by Nick B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋