References at Work

[A1Mikey]

If a company is approached for a reference for an employee, do most companies play safe (through fear of being sued) and just give a reference without any negative comments in it. This is what I have been told by a friend but are there any managers out there who can confirm? Thanks

[tamborine]

If you can't give a positive reference it's best to withdraw - often future employers will phone....then we can let rip on you.....behave!

[hc4361]

An employer can give details of absences; warnings; performance....anything as long as it is truthful and can be backed by evidence.
He can't say that A!Mikey is useless as that is personal opinion. He can say that in the past 2 years A1Mikey has has 9 occasions of sick leave totalling 12 days and has been given a written warning for punctuality.

An employer cannot be sued for being honest if there is the evidence to back it up.

[buildersmate]

The most telling reference is the one that lacks information.
The way I used to do for a real cretin would be to say something like: Yes, we do give references but on this occasion I'd be merely happy to confirm that Ms. Cretin was employed here from x to y and was employed as a General Dogsbody (Job Title, whatever)

[WhiteBear]

well my ex employer had to lie all the way through on one of his member of ex-staff's reference.

this guy was always late into work (20-45mins late sometimes 1 or 2 hrs late)
his attention to detail and accuratcy is 65%.
most of his time his appearence- is scruffy- creased shirt, and trousers, his shirt colar folded in, jumper back to front.

but the employer wrote everything opposite on his reference so it sounds possitve candidate, lol i dont know why he did it cos ... the guy will b earnng more than him. -(he got the job cos of the reference)