I need Professional References but my current jobs' HR manger is stopping it.?

Question

I need Professional References but my current jobs' HR manger is telling people that if they answer they can be fired. I have no contact with former co-workers so I need to know if the HR manger can do this and if so what can I do to get around it.

Answer 1

A company I used to work for had a policy that managers/coworkers were not allowed to provide references unless approval was received from HR. I believe this is to protect the company in case anything should arise from an employee providing misleading information to another company.

Ask some of your coworkers who still keep in contact, or are friends, with former coworkers. You should be able to find someone who has contact information with someone who can provide you a reference.

Good luck!

Answer 2

You can use the H.R. Manager or your supervisor as your professional reference. I suggest you get it in writing, so you know what is on the reference, and you can keep it for future job applications. Two, or five, or or ten years down the road, most likely all those people will be gone, and if you don't have something in writing, you will be hard pressed to show ANY references.

Answer 3

I too worked for a place in which we were not 'allowed' to give references. I did write letters of reference for many of my employees but my letters did not identify our employer, only my relationship with the person. I included my home/cell phone number as well as my home address, in case they wanted to contact me.

Answer 4

Ask the HR manager why he/she is stopping your references? Perhaps he/she doesn't want you to leave.