Would you tell your friend that the person they are going to hire is no good?

[sinemacula]

I have name changed because I could be recognised in RL and by the employee I think is no good.

A new friend of mine mentioned to me that someone is going to work for her soon. This person has also worked for me and has been, in all honesty, useless. Basically if she didn't feel like coming into work she didn't and took 3 weeks off at a moment's notice leaving me in the lurch. When here she was ok at the job but we have had much better people in the past.

My friend told me this person is going to work for her but didn't ask me what she was like.

So should I tell her anyway or would that be wrong? The person will be working with her children.

[CoffeeIsMyFriend]

tell her

[Imnotaslimjim]

I would

[sinemacula]

ok, i'll tell her. thanks

[Poogles]

Be careful. If the person believes they didn't get the job becasue you gave them a bad reference then they could take you to a tribunal.

Perhaps better to ask your friend to ask you for a formal reference where you can put a factual comment about time and attendance.

[sinemacula]

The person is self-employed though, would that make a difference?

[SpeedyGonzalez]

I think if you don't tell your friend things will become very sticky if the freelancer messes her about. Your friend will wonder why you didn't warn her.

I didn't know about the legal aspect which Poogles posted, though. Why don't you ask your friend to request a formal reference from you, and then send it to her in writing. Then your friend can make up her own mind what to do about the situation.

[sinemacula]

Yes the concern I have is that the person will definitely wonder why I didn't warn her.

[sinemacula]

Surely if someone uses an electrician who turned out not to be very good and they told their friend this, the electrician would not be able to sue their original customer?