Is this (career) suicide?

[XennoX]

Situation: 2 of my 3 references on my CV are no longer contactable (changed numbers by the sounds of it). The 3rd is my current manager. I've just been offered a job at a company in my field.

The company wants to know if they can contact my current manager? Bad idea, yes, no?

I'm leaning on yes, but unsure. Help?

 

[Chevron]

Depends on your relationship with your manager.

My previous manger was fully aware and supportive of my move.

 

[TofuMofu]

I was told by a recruitment company that it's against the law to give a bad recommendation.

Not sure how that works though as that deceives the point?

 

[TehStranger]

Situation: 2 of my 3 references on my CV are no longer contactable (changed numbers by the sounds of it). The 3rd is my current manager. I've just been offered a job at a company in my field.

The company wants to know if they can contact my current manager? Bad idea, yes, no?

I'm leaning on yes, but unsure. Help?

Was nice knowing you OP, enjoy minimum wage patty flipping at McDonalds from now on.

 

[OrbitalDawn]

Yeah, wholly depends on the manager. If he/she is a vindictive prick then you could be in a spot of bother. If not, perhaps consider talking to him/her about it.

 

[Batista]

Be careful, this could get you burnt.It all depends on whether your manager see's you as a living breathing person or a work robot.

 

[OrbitalDawn]

I was told by a recruitment company that it's against the law to give a bad recommendation.

Not sure how that works though as that deceives the point?

Basically they just say 'Yes, he/she worked here'. Bit troubling, because the subtext is that there's nothing good to say about the employee.

 

[Chevron]

I was told by a recruitment company that it's against the law to give a bad recommendation.

Employers can read between the lines though. if your manager says:
"Yes I know dude X. He worked here from date to date."

The new employer will get the message.

 

[Salvage]

Depends on your relationship with your manager.

My previous manger was fully aware and supportive of my move.

This. My previous manager, who was an Executive, that I worked for 5 years was also a friend that I could regularly socialise with outside of work. When I decided it was time to go and I explained my reasons, they understood and happily gave a good reference.

I was told by a recruitment company that it's against the law to give a bad recommendation.

Yeah, but new potential employers can read between the lines. For one of my own staff who was incompetent (to the point he gave me as a reference without ever thinking of what I might say), I simply told the potential new employer "I'm not prepared to give X a recommendation."

He didn't get the job. We also "exited him" from our employment.

 

[TofuMofu]

I give the numbers of colleagues for references. At least I know they won't blabber to the management team and they are trustworthy.

 

[ToxicBunny]

I give the numbers of colleagues for references. At least I know they won't blabber to the management team and they are trustworthy.

Seriously? you trust colleagues to not tell management if they get an opportunity to get one up on you?

 

[rrh]

I was told by a recruitment company that it's against the law to give a bad recommendation.

Not sure how that works though as that deceives the point?

There is no legal requirement to provide a reference.

OTOH if one is provided it must be true.

Safest is to split the difference by limiting the reference to start & end dates.

 

[rrh]

Seriously? you trust colleagues to not tell management if they get an opportunity to get one up on you?

You be working with some real mean colleagues ...

 

[satanboy]

I was told by a recruitment company that it's against the law to give a bad recommendation.

I can't believe that to be true.

I thought it was just bad form to.

 

[froot]

I can't believe that to be true.

I thought it was just bad form to.

Might not be against the law (from what I was told it is indeed against the law), but it is a seriously bad move either way.

There are two things a previous employer can do:

1) Yes, he worked here, but no comment
2) Yes, he worked here, and he did well, was a hard worker, etc.

1) is the "bad reference" you don't want, but which is the PC way of doing it.

 

[Ocali]

Depends on your relationship with your manager.

My previous manger was fully aware and supportive of my move.

+1

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

I was told by a recruitment company that it's against the law to give a bad recommendation.

Not sure how that works though as that deceives the point?

They can't give you a bad recommendation, but it can make things very awkward going forward, especially if you don't receive an offer from the other company.

As mentioned it depends on your relationship with your manager, as well as the sort of person they are. I have a good relationship with my boss, but I know that he can be a dick about things like this, so my two references when I started looking for a new job was someone from HR and a former colleague. And then a quiet word with them to please keep it confidential. Didn't have any problems with doing it this way.

 

[ToxicBunny]

You be working with some real mean colleagues ...

More like normal human beings..

I trust my colleagues with work stuff, but anything personal, not so much.

 

[Sinbad]

Might not be against the law (from what I was told it is indeed against the law), but it is a seriously bad move either way.

There are two things a previous employer can do:

1) Yes, he worked here, but no comment
2) Yes, he worked here, and he did well, was a hard worker, etc.

1) is the "bad reference" you don't want, but which is the PC way of doing it.

You'd be very lucky to get X to work for you

He's tenacious. Even when he hits rock bottom he just keeps digging
Etc ;-)

 

[Arthur]

On the legal requirements: Distinguish between a personal opinion and the official company position.

If an employee has a clean formal employment record, ie has not been formally found in breach at a properly convened disciplinary tribunal or has not been put on official notice for sub-par performance, then you are legally obliged to say that they met all performance criteria and objectives.

At minimum, a reference is simply a check that the candidate has not been formally/officially 'convicted' through a properly constituted disciplinary process.

One is of course free to say positive things.

At least that is how I was advised by labour lawyers in the days when I still employed people.