I had a call yesterday to say that the employer I went to on Friday would like to offer me one of the 3 temp to permanent roles they have on offer and if I’m interested they would like me to start on Jan 8th. (It’s a college, so they close for the holidays on Dec 21st). They are offering me a salary which is midway on the scale and is good for local work - bear in mind I don’t have a mortgage, just c/tax, utilities and the other usual stuff. This would mean I would be able to save some money as we had to use a lot of savings when I was ill due to not qualifying for benefits, etc., and the fact my OH had just started a business 6 weeks before my diagnosis. The job will become permanent in April when the new funding is in place and the salary would also be reviewed at this point. Great you would think - well, not quite I’m afraid.
One of the former employers I gave them has refused me a reference as they are saying it’s some time since I worked for them so they don’t think it would be relevant. However, this employer is important as it’s the one I worked for in London before I moved back to Scotland. Since I moved back to Scotland I have either been a f/t carer or self employed, so it’s not like I can give myself a work reference! My other reference is fine, but it’s not work related as it’s from a Professor I studied under as a mature student, so more a character ref. If I try to go further back one boss has retired, another has emigrated and a bank I was with for many years has been taken over, so you see my problem. The college have said not to worry too much, but they will need a work related ref as it’s the policy and I also have to go through a disclosure check. Apparently my former employer was sent a standard form and it was returned blank with a note pinned to it. I spent all of yesterday afternoon worrying about this.
After all of the trauma of this past year, I really can’t believe that a former employer could be so petty! I was a very valued and conscientious member of staff when I was there; it was a charity so I often worked many unpaid hours outwith the contracted ones. I didn’t leave under a cloud or anything, I had to leave because I was having to move back to Scotland to look after my dad. I have actually written to my ex-boss last night asking if he could just confirm to the college that I had worked for him, my job title and the dates (this is all the college requires; I have also put in the letter that this is very important to me as I have been seriously ill since moving away from London to see if it will do any good).
I have got another interview next week and have given the same referees and worry the same thing will happen again.
Why is nothing ever simple? I feel I could give up at the moment, it was hard enough getting a couple of interviews when you have to declare you’ve had cancer.
So sorry to hear about your former employer. So not on, and surely a reference is about the time you worked for them then. It is up to the new employer to decide if they think this is still relevant.
Oh there are some people around. Try not to let it get to you (sound good coming from me, but it is true).
I am a bit surprised here, do you have to declare that you’ve had breastcancer?? (I mean, is that anyones business)
I don’t believe you need to put anything on a CV, but this was an application form which asked about how many days sick in the past 12 months so I had to be up front. I also told them at the interview that I am on Herceptin so between now and May will have regular hospital checks as well. The employer is fine with that as they say they would fit their flexible working policies around the appointments (also as the first 3 months are temp they would only be paying me for hours worked).
I still can’t get over a former employer being so crap, it makes it look as if I was sacked or something.
Sorry to hear about your former employer. I do hope that he has a change of mind.
People can indeed be insensitive. When I was going through treatment, my business partner refused to help by doing more and I was left running most of the business. When the treatment was over, he announced that he was taking a month’s holiday. I was shocked. We have now parted company and I am going through a tortuous process of selling my shares in the company to him. I did not need any of this but, hey, onwards and upwards.
Hi Cherub, i think your former employer has to give you a reference, and it has to be a good one, tell him you will take it further if he/she persists in refusing, or be open with your new employer and tell him that your old one has refused.
Hi Cherub,
well done for getting the job must be a real boost to you. Surely the ex employer must have to provide basic info on you ie how long you worked there, how many days off sick etc - can’t he be made to provide this under the Data Protection Act or is it the Freedom of Information Act? Check with the CAB. Try not to stress too much as your new employer sounds quite keen to help and there must be some way round this. Why the other chap is being so unhelpfyul amazes me!
cheers
caroline
There is no legal requirement for an employer to give any kind of reference and if he/she does the key thing is that it is fair. That can work both ways - the employee can sue if it is detrimental when in fact they hadn’t done anything wrong and the new employer can sue if the reference is glowing when perhaps the employee had done something wrong (especially if that happens again in the new workplace).
Funnily enough, it is the Data Protection Act that has caused many of the problems because an employee can demand to see what has been written about them if they think it has prejudiced their chances of a job. And, of course, the DDA should prevent the questions about sickness although people still ask.
It can cause all sorts of problems when a former employer refuses/doesn’t give even a basic reference when someone is going for a role which is “controlled” e.g. by criminal disclosure, or financial services.
Because of the need to be fair and accurate because of the fear of getting it wrong, most employers now will only confirm dates of employment and perhaps the job the employee did. Cherub - is there anyone else in the company who can provide that?
The charity I worked for only has a very small number of staff, most of whom work p/t; people quite often worked on different days to each other so didn’t come into contact with each other. Some have left since I moved on, so any ref would really need to come from the head of the organisation as he is the one constant factor. Also, the HR files are kept locked in his office. The PA he had when I was there has also moved on, I kept in contact with her for a bit then she went off to the States when her husband was posted over there and we lost contact.
I am writing to someone else from another employer who might be able to give me a ref, I feel it’s only fair to contact people first as they may not like just being contacted out of the blue. The letter I sent to my ex-boss would probably get there this morning - I gave my email address etc in the hope he might contact me.
I’ve also had some legal advice and was told that whilst there is no law that says a former employer has to give a ref, it is classed as bad practice not to at least give the bare minimum details as this forms part of an implied contract. I had a verbal agreement with them when I left that they would give a ref if need be. The solicitor told me I did the best thing by writing to my former boss as it puts the ball back in his court and he will need to act on it. I worked for 2 very small but prestigious charities when I was in London and it was my experience that they know little or nothing about employment law, they just carry on regardless - the other charity I worked for was threatened with legal action over pension contributions and unpaid final salary from someone who moved to Australia!