About three years ago I worked for a company that later on faced a class action suit due to discriminatory hiring/scheduling practices. I went ahead and joined this lawsuit and was later awarded some money. My new potential employer wants to call this company for a reference check. Do you know if the fact that I participated in this lawsuit will show up in my file and count against me? Is there a law that prohibits such information from being disclosed? I'm a tad freaked out right now and any help would be appreciated :)
2007-04-26 16:56:55 · 6 answers · asked by Nattie 2 in Business & Finance ➔ Careers & Employment
Oh and to clarify: I did not put it down as a reference. I'm not that stupid. It was however a previous employer and I wanted to be honest. It's not like I was a bad employee. It was A&F if it makes any difference. So if you're going to criticize me you should just keep those comments to yourself. It's not like I expected them to call up one of my high school jobs that I quit over 3 years ago and that had over 100 emloyees. Thank you for all the help!
2007-04-26 17:18:32 · update #1
Note to Lisa A: Seriously? Is that how racked up your points and became the "top contributor"? By making bitchy comments totally unrelevant to the question? Thanks for the words of "wisdom". I'm sorry you're a bitter old maid but don't take it out on yahoo!answers.
2007-04-26 19:34:40 · update #2
Your previous employer has the legal right to disclose any information about you. What you can say to your potential employer was you were not an active participant in the class action suit. You should not be ashamed of this because the law upheld your group. And if you are not hired for this reason, you can always complain or file a suit for discriminatory hiring. I hope this helps.
Peace and every blessing!
2007-04-26 18:31:07 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Read your settlement agreement. I will guess - but, maybe I'm wrong - a good class action lawyer will include a confidentiality agreement and/or a non-disparagement agreement within the settlement. It will, by contract, require the ex-employer not to disparage you in anyway or comment on the lawsuit. Most likely they will simply tell the inquiring employer that you worked there from X to Y and they can't say anything else. They are not going to give you a "good" review. Rather, they will confirm you were an employee. Now, that being said, court cases are generally public record and they can simply search the docket and see you were a participant in a civil suit.
2007-04-27 00:16:01 · answer #2 · answered by MagusGreg 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you can tell ur current employer about the event that took place in ur previous company... and u should have put ur neighbors or ur close friends numbers for referrence checks... but if u already have given the company's number, u can disclose the information before ur previous employer does and it may also happen that ur previous employer does not say anything about the mishap...
2007-04-27 00:20:08 · answer #3 · answered by gt_thegame 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is no law prohibiting this information from being disclosed. However, standard business practice is not to disclose litigation. I wouldn't worry about it--your worry will make your prospective employer wonder what's going on and they will doubt the inocuous reference you will receive.
2007-04-27 00:00:41 · answer #4 · answered by Still reading 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Why would you put this company down as a reference?? First of all, you put individuals down as references. Second, you only put people down who you know will give you a good reference. And you know they will give you a good reference because you have double checked by ASKING them if they will give you a good reference.
2007-04-27 00:05:10 · answer #5 · answered by Lisa A 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's too late to worry now. What's done is done. Give the reference and hope for the best. But, learn from this, if you don't get the job.
2007-04-27 00:07:36 · answer #6 · answered by jdkilp 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋