Discussion
The guy i work with has been for an interview and the company have expressed an interest in taking him on. Thay have contacted our HR bitch/manager for a reference who has mailed him saying she doesnt have to give a reference as he hasnt handed in his notice yet???? He called her and she said i dont have to do it but she will on this occasion, pardon me you silly bint but i think if you dont give one that constitues a bad reference (wich is not desrved). Is she in need of re-education or stern talking too from ACAS.
she needs a good kick up the c 
nobbybombshell said:
The guy i work with has been for an interview and the company have expressed an interest in taking him on. Thay have contacted our HR bitch/manager for a reference who has mailed him saying she doesnt have to give a reference as he hasnt handed in his notice yet???? He called her and she said i dont have to do it but she will on this occasion, pardon me you silly bint but i think if you dont give one that constitues a bad reference (wich is not desrved). Is she in need of re-education or stern talking too from ACAS.
My missus works in HR and they are always chasing up references - many places can't be arsed to provide them. On a number of occasions they are not able to get them - at no fault of the individual. In many cases, if the rest fits then they will go and employ them (large accountancy firm)
AFAIK If the reference is from HR, all it will say it that they confirm that the individual worked there between the dates specified. You could have a terrible record but HR often will not pass that on unless asked.
When providing referenced, in the last 3 yrs wifey has only been asked once if there was any outstanding warnings/disciplinary action.
AFAIK There's no legal obligation for an employer to give a reference to a 3rd party, but most employers feel they have a responsibility to treat their employees fairly, so you get the "Joe worked here from this date to that date, in this role, and that's all" kind of reference.
Personally, if I want someone to be a referee I (a) ask them if that's OK and (b) remind them what they are to say
Personally, if I want someone to be a referee I (a) ask them if that's OK and (b) remind them what they are to say
DanCov said:
Ive worked for Tesco for over 2 years and I recentley asked for a reference, they promptly refused so any reference is better than no reference!.
Surely a colleague will write a few lines for you?
Maybe someone who has managed you etc.
>> Edited by bga on Tuesday 4th January 15:15
Yeah, not sure whether they are obliged to provide a reference, but I know they're not allowed to provide a bad reference (which kinda defeats the object IMO)...as mentioned above, when I needed a reference for a new job outside of the company I already worked in, HR were only allowed to provide the To-From dates, plus amount of sickness taken in the tenur. Any glowing and more detailed references, I was told, had to be on personal letterheading, ie., from your first-line manager as a personal referee. Again, I think it comes under liability, ie if Comp A gives a good ref, and Comp B gets stitched, then it gets messy.
Just so I understand, your friend is looking to leave the company and is upset the people he's leaving won't provide him with a referance?
If so, i always find it amusing theat if roles were reversed and the company were sacking him but asking the employee for a letter saying how good they were to work for, people would be outraged.
If so, i always find it amusing theat if roles were reversed and the company were sacking him but asking the employee for a letter saying how good they were to work for, people would be outraged.
Just checked with wife now she's home.
There is no obligation for HR to provide a reference, although most will give info on what is asked for. It is courtesy - they expect references so they provide them too.
The way they work is that they will contact the HR dept of the employee's previous employer directly. They will also give references when requested by an ex-employee's new company. It is rare that an employee will directly request a reference. If they do, they will not give one without a name to address it to. Character references are provided by line managers etc and there is no formal setup for these as it is taken as opinion based.
As I said in earlier post her firm will confirm (and only request) dates of tenure as standard. If asked they will also give info on current disciplinary matters which are on record.
There is no obligation for HR to provide a reference, although most will give info on what is asked for. It is courtesy - they expect references so they provide them too.
The way they work is that they will contact the HR dept of the employee's previous employer directly. They will also give references when requested by an ex-employee's new company. It is rare that an employee will directly request a reference. If they do, they will not give one without a name to address it to. Character references are provided by line managers etc and there is no formal setup for these as it is taken as opinion based.
As I said in earlier post her firm will confirm (and only request) dates of tenure as standard. If asked they will also give info on current disciplinary matters which are on record.
DanCov said:
Ive worked for Tesco for over 2 years and I recentley asked for a reference, they promptly refused so any reference is better than no reference!.
I doubt that this applies but I have heard of situations where employers were very reluctant to provide references for employees they wished to retain and quite willing to encourage others to leave.
I would take the refusal as a positive if I were you.
Hold on, are we discussing whether a company has to provide a reference to an employee who is leaving (I believe they do) or whether they are under an obligation to do so for an employee who hasn't yet handed in their notice?
This could be a simple case of an employer being arsey because the employee hasn't told them they're leaving yet.
This could be a simple case of an employer being arsey because the employee hasn't told them they're leaving yet.
Rearrange this well known saying or phrase
Paper on not references worth are they not written!
You are good, manager hates you, gives poor reference
You are crap but play golf with manager/baby sit his kids, sleeps with him/her, gives good reference
You are crap, manager wants rid of you, gives good reference
You are good, manager spineless fool unwilling to commit him/herself, gives vague fluffy reference worth nowt
You good, manager spineless with a grudge, gives reference where you can read between the lines but not got guts to say it out loud
You good, manager racked of you are leaving him in the lurch because you are the only competent one, gives bad reference to keep you, not realising you wil now leave anyway
You good, manager switched on and sees value in giving good reference in hope you will develop and return or do well for yourelf
Odds 6/1.
Paper on not references worth are they not written!
You are good, manager hates you, gives poor reference
You are crap but play golf with manager/baby sit his kids, sleeps with him/her, gives good reference
You are crap, manager wants rid of you, gives good reference
You are good, manager spineless fool unwilling to commit him/herself, gives vague fluffy reference worth nowt
You good, manager spineless with a grudge, gives reference where you can read between the lines but not got guts to say it out loud
You good, manager racked of you are leaving him in the lurch because you are the only competent one, gives bad reference to keep you, not realising you wil now leave anyway
You good, manager switched on and sees value in giving good reference in hope you will develop and return or do well for yourelf
Odds 6/1.
shirepro said:
Odds 6/1.
We seem to get reference requests for one individual who left of his own accord several years ago. Basically he's a stroppy git and his work wasn't necessarily top notch (also unwilling to take constructive criticism etc) so we weren't that sad to see him go.
Have met him once or twice since and spoken to other people who've met him and the pattern now seems to be that he pings from job to job, p155ing somebody off at each place and either getting sacked or persuaded to resign.
Every time he gets a new job, he gives our place as a source for a reference. As its so long since he worked here, we generally give the wooly "he worked here from x to y etc" response.
Why each new employer doesn't get suspicious as to why his last company (or any of the other more recent ones) aren't listed as referees, I don't know
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