9 years loyal service and no reference... guess the company

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trafford

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I am so peeved at my old company, I worked for them for almost 9 years sometimes starting at 2 or 3am for their online sales. I never got any kind of warning or did anything wrong in my job then when I give my notice they tell me to leave the same day as there is a conflict of interest with my new job (agreed there was) When asked for a reference a year later the company flatly refuse. What a lovely way to treat people. No names mentioned but I bet there isn't a horsey person around thats not bought from them at some point!! Ok rant over!!
 
Robinsons only sell tat nowadays, the last thing I bought from there was a pair of jump cups!!! I can't say I have ever thought they would be any different to work for than they are to buy from, the shop staff are useless. That said I don't much care for Derby House nowadays,if I need stuff I usually go to Beeston or Chelford besides which they are much cheaper.
 
Oh it is definitely the same people, they just have nothing to gain from it themselves so don't care! Every manager I worked for is still there alive and kicking (in my gut, haha)
 
And nor would the company I worked for. They will only state that so and so worked at the company from 'x' date to 'x' date.

It absolves them from any backlash and admin costs, trawling though to find your record. It was only in the last 5yrs or so that your record went to HR HO. Before that, it was just on paper in your office!
 
My old company was the same,

They would not give a bad reference but by saying actually nothing other than beginning and end date makes it difficult to apply for other jobs!!!

Plus the fact they have an in house computer system, grrr

It really shows them for what they are, or so you would think xx
 
Lol tried emailing my manager directly and didn't even get a reply even though he was supposed to be a friend too! What lovely people I miss them all so much I could spit!!! Rrrrrrrr
 
I used to work for a well known bank type place who insisted on having 2 references & checked them both out, but did they give ref's when u left, oh no 'against company policy' just confirmed dates u worked there :( grr
 
This lovely company even got my work in a nationwide magazine (Horsescene) getting themselves a free advert but couldn't be bothered to tell me it was in there! I only found out when I approached the mag myself... on the plus side though I am now a regular article contributor to this magazine!
 
Now that it is illegal for a 'bad' reference to be given (to protect people from vindictive behaviour by bitter ex-employers so, not a totally stupid rule) there are a couple of problems

- a lot of companies won't write them at all (or only confirm start and end dates) to avoid being misinterpreted and sued
- even if they are written it is hard to know how 'good' a reference is because they can't say anything bad anyway.

So, TBH, I wouldn't necessarily take this too personally. A lot of employers aren't that bothered about references any more because, unless you know the person writing one well and can read between the lines, they don't really mean much.

Also: I work in an industry where it is very common to be escorted off the premises when you give/are given notice so I'm afraid that seems perfectly 'ok' to me too!
 
So Glad I have been Self Employed for the past 30 years ! Office Politics ... couldn't be doing with that !

Good luck though with your career !!
 
My last organization didn't give references either, but I did get personal references from my last line manager and 2 account managers I supported, and a business contact. Is there anyone there you could ask for a personal reference? They're allowed to refer to your work, I think.. mine did
 
The people I work for now won't give me a reference. I've been there 8 years in a team of 7 - the won't give a reference because they think Im a traitor for leaving :rolleyes: Not much I can do about it tho!
 
It's common place now to only give dates of employment on references and has been for a few years where I live. Theyre bit worth the paper they're written on now. However as an employer I'd be concerned why a previous employer would not give one so I'd be asking them to provide just dates of employment and job title upon leaving as a minimum.
 
They wouldn't even provide the dates I worked there, my new job had to have a reference as it is working with vulnerable people so their lack of help has almost cost me a job! God they are such !!!!s Its good to see that they have had bad stories on H and H itself recently too though, makes me feel so much better. I could give them lots more awful stories too, keep guessing?
 
I think there's an awful lot of people here who don't seem to understand that a reference doesn't have to be a gushing paragraph about your skills.

I have to gather references on an almost daily basis and all we want is a confirmation that what someone says on their CV they actually did. You use an interview to suss out the rest of their character.

Don't feel sour to an old company if they just provide dates, it's perfectly acceptable and they don't deserve a badmouthing if that's your only gripe with them.
 
BTW Trafford, in no way am I directing this at you - sounds like where you were working are just being sh**s about it!! Sorry to hear that, bet you're glad you're outta there!
 
Hi thanks Aprilblossom this company won't even give the dates I worked there to confirm I worked there. Really nice of them, it wouldn't be so bad if I'd only worked there a short time but as I'd been there so long it made my other work references very out of date. The timber company I worked for in 1998 were more than happy to give me a reference I hasten to add so I obviously am not that bad!

Hey everyone, pick up a free copy of October Horsescene at your tack shop, my article is in there!!
 
trafford said:
Hi thanks Aprilblossom this company won't even give the dates I worked there to confirm I worked there. Really nice of them, it wouldn't be so bad if I'd only worked there a short time but as I'd been there so long it made my other work references very out of date. The timber company I worked for in 1998 were more than happy to give me a reference I hasten to add so I obviously am not that bad!

Hey everyone, pick up a free copy of October Horsescene at your tack shop, my article is in there!!
Click to expand...

Giving any more detail than dates of employment has fallen out of favour with large organisations as it risks being sued if the opinions are not justified by evidence and because it takes a lot of resource to do if you have 000s of employees. So they stick to the legal minimum. I worked for a large global bank for 15 years and they were very happy with me and I only ran away to play with the ponies in an area they dont cover, but I still would only get a reference stating dates.

If the reference is just confirmation of dates you worked there then an employer is supposed to provide this and refusal has been one of the complaints that can and has been brought to an employment tribunal; however it more usually forms part of a more substantial complaint with other grounds for bringing the tribunal eg victimisation or bullying or sex discrimination, unfair or constructive dismissal.
 
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