What is the purpose of a reference in low key jobs

[whatisforteamum]

I've had the interview.
Passed the job trial and started my new job on probation.
My references are being checked even though I sent documents of my qualifications.
I understand when employees are paid big money or have huge responsibility.
I don't.
What is the purpose of a reference in lower paid jobs.Im not on min wage yet not on great money.

you seriously need to ask?

reliability
presentation
interaction with others and customers if appropriate

i could go on

To check you're not dodgy or a massive PITA.

it can’t be that low level if you have provided evidence of qualification?

To check if you are who you say you are.
To check if you are reliable and trustworthy.

You need to ask? Someone I went to school with embezzled from a shop they worked in. They stole loaded up gift cards, bought stuff from the store’s website and returned the items for a refund onto their debit card (because it was an old website and the online receipt didn’t specify payment method, so all refunds went back onto a card in the buyer’s name). It wasn’t just stealing cash from the till, they had a whole thing going. That’s a minimum wage job and kind of a big deal that following employers would know about it so they maybe don’t get to work in a shop again.

To check you weren't sacked for stealing? That you turned up?

My point is if you got on well with the boss they can say you are great worker anyway.
They are not asking the ones that don't like you are they.

this doesn’t make sense

I sort of agree, no one is going to give a referee that won't give them a good reference. I think lots of places just give factual references, ie the dates you worked there. It's more a framework to check people are who they say they are and actually worked in that place. Character references are gradually defunct because people are worried about saying something that they could be sued for.

Why are you so bothered OP? What don’t you want them to find out?

generally do not have a choice

it’s references from last two employers

I'm not bothered it just seems like a pointless exercise.
Then again I'm a contentious workaholic.
I guess I had considered stealing or anyone being sacked as I never have or would.

Lots of references simply confirm employment dates these days. So it can simply be to make sure you’re telling the truth about your employment history.

very odd

you don’t get to pick which employer is asked. They ask for previous two employers

what the heck is a “contentious workaholic” (and please say that you haven’t used that expression on your CV!)

To check your last employment was fabricated.

OP, you've got a very odd outlook. Are you very young, is this your first job? Of course a new employer wants to check you out. You could've lied through your teeth about working somewhere else, your time keeping could be shit, you might have been off sick loads. You might have punched a customer in the gob.

Your new employer can't just take your word for your honestly and "workaholic" attitude. You could say anything and (shock horror) people do lie at interview or on their CV. Surely you can get your head around that!

Most companies asking for, or giving, ensure/check references come from your companies HR department, rather than your boss/mates. It is clear in our company policy if we give personal references they must be clearly stated as being a personal reference, work references must go through HR.

Basic references can contain factual information such as length of service, absence record, disciplinaries. Fuller references can include more information and then there is the good old reference question favourite - Would you employ this person again?

We have had people who has asked work friends to give them references before (after dismissal) which ended up with the new employer contacting our HR department, job offers being withdrawn and also friends being disciplined for misconduct.

Thank you herewegoagainandagain.
That makes sense.
I've had a sheltered life I guess.

I've had a sheltered life I guess.

common sense as to why has squat all with whether or not you’ve “had a sheltered life” or not

To check that you are who you say you are, and that you aren't the sort of person who helps themselves to the contents of the till.

This is nothing to do with a sheltered life. It’s simply a lack of common sense or critical thinking.

To be fair at that level references are totally pointless now and not worth the paper they are written on. 9/10 it is just confirming dates and no other information.

Someone who works hard and is likely to cause arguments 🤷‍♀️😁

I’ve given a reference for someone recently and listed all the multiple absences they had. I’d imagine their prospective employer would want to know and if I was them I’d withdraw the job offer 🤷‍♀️