Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think they will all blame me?

26 replies

onedamnthingafteranother · 31/07/2014 07:30

Short version - had a student professional last year - OK but nothing special, passed her on her course. Now she has applied to a team next to mine and passed the interview - but my boss loathed her, and has been very vocal to me (and various other people, some of them quite high up) how she wouldn't have passed her, thinks she'll fail etc.
I gave her a reference and now wish I hadn't (I was being pressured to do it quickly and and couldn't put my hand on my heart and say she can't do the job, though I do have doubts as to whether she can take the pressure), as if she does fail (and the pressures on our work are extreme right now, I don't think we should be hiring newbies at all,
Just got called in to a special meeting at which it was broadly hinted I ought to have given her a bad reference to stop her being hired (this is after the interview, mark you). If she fails (there is a probation period, but it's still time and money), is that the end of my own (pretty good at the moment) credibility, because it sure sounds like it?

OP posts:
Original poster
onedamnthingafteranother · 31/07/2014 07:32

sorry, meant to say "if she does fail, I feel I will take the rap"

OP posts:
Lally112 · 31/07/2014 07:36

You know you cant give a 'bad' reference legally right?? trust me - I'm the ice queen of all bitches and bad references would be my forte. You can decline to provide one but you are not allowed in employment law to give a 'bad' one.

flipchart · 31/07/2014 07:37

I can't see how it all can be your fault.
I'm guessing you didn't give her a glowing reference but she still had to get through the interview. I would turn it on the people that interviewed her if I could. Was she the only person that was interviewed?

ArgyMargy · 31/07/2014 07:42

She passed the interview. She cant be all that bad. Think about it from her point of view. You did the right thing. Unless your reference was untruthful of course. If people want to criticise you just ignore them.

Original poster
onedamnthingafteranother · 31/07/2014 07:44

flip: no, they picked two others (we have a high staff turnover, and for good reason, it's hell at times) - also ex-students, both really good.

I gave her a good character reference and a simple "yes" as to "can she do the job"? I hate yes/no alternatives, but that's the form.

OP posts:
wowfudge · 31/07/2014 07:49

I think you are possibly over thinking things - there has been a process and you have told the truth. Your conscience is clear. If, however, the internal politics are so bad that you are fretting because you have not done what you believe your boss wanted, then that's a separate issue and you might want to consider whether this is the right environment for you. Not because you have done anything wrong btw.

WookieCookiee · 31/07/2014 07:49

you can't give a bad ref, and in your opinion she passed the course, and has now been successful at an interview so she probably didn't deserve one anyway. Does the other team report to your manager as well?
Doubting yourself over this calls your credibility into question more than giving her a decent reference IMHO. Sounds to me as if you feel you overpraised her in her reference, would that be right?

WookieCookiee · 31/07/2014 07:50

Ok thread moved on. Then you have followed process and all is ok! Don't send guess yourself.

Toooldtobearsed · 31/07/2014 07:55

You CAN give a bad reference, as long is it honest, true and factual.
Most employers choose not to, simply to make life easier.
If you gave an honest reference, then hold true to that. Everyone deserves a chance and she might surprise you all - you would then be getting plaudits for how insightful you were.

Bailey101 · 31/07/2014 07:55

You can give a bad reference, it just has to factual and not conjecture or opinion. For example you can't say 'x was fired because they're a thieving crap bag' but you can say 'x's employment was terminated due to allegations of theft'.

Bailey101 · 31/07/2014 07:55

Cross posted with toooldtobearsed :)

Original poster
onedamnthingafteranother · 31/07/2014 08:00

Didn't "overpraise" her - stated she has a good character and manner (she does) and ticked "yes" to "can she do the job?" I think she could, not sure if she can, tbh.

OP posts:
Pastperfect · 31/07/2014 08:01

Of course you can give a bad reference, provided it is accurate and truthful.

You were asked to give a reference and so should have done so accurately - if you didn't for whatever reason then yes it is feasible your credibility could be affected.

However the woman was successful at interview and was presumably chosen out of the interviewed candidates by persons other than you, so it seems decision was theirs not yours.

If your reference was accurate it is very unprofessional of your colleagues to suggest that it should have been your role to vetoe the position by providing an unfairly negative reference

Original poster
onedamnthingafteranother · 31/07/2014 08:02

And yes, the other team does report to my manager- she has been promoted recently to deputy area manager.

OP posts:
Pastperfect · 31/07/2014 08:02

Cross posts there Grin

Original poster
onedamnthingafteranother · 31/07/2014 08:04

This was my first time as assessor and referee, I feel she should be given a chance to prove herself, if she was actually bad I would not have passed her at all. She's just a bit slow, and we are a high pressure team.

OP posts:
AgentProvocateur · 31/07/2014 08:16

I see the "illegal to give a bad reference" line trotted out on MN regularly. Did someone say it on here once, then everyone's taken it as gospel? It's very odd - I never hear it in RL.

Lally112 · 31/07/2014 08:30

That's what I mean by bad reference, Maybe its different here in Scotland but I work in agriculture and we get sent lots of work experience people off the dole, some of which are fine but most of which are shit.

I have to say; Mr X arrived for work but punctuality could be better etc and not this fucking twat sat outside on the fence with his mate for 10 minutes smoking god knows what before sliding through the gate.

I'm not convinced about the allegations of theft thing either because we have red diesel stolen REGULARLY by some of these people as well as quad bikes, scramblers, tractor keys etc and we are not allowed to comment on any of these acts unless it has been reported and the person has been charged or convicted of the offence. I (like I said before) am a complete ice queen and would happily send a reference saying thieving scumbag tried to break into the vet medicine cupboard but there are laws preventing me from doing so.

MummaB1014 · 31/07/2014 09:07

Have seen similar throughout social services. Sometimes the candidate you think won't be cut out for the job turns out to be the best choice! You were honest in your assessment of her, that's the best you can do. Hopefully she'll have adequate supervision which will help her cope in the role.

Infinity8 · 31/07/2014 12:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Bailey101 · 31/07/2014 13:41

Lally112, I'm in Scotland too - it's perfectly legal to say why an employee was fired. If the theft wasn't proven by the police, then you would say there were allegations of theft. It's only gets into the realm of unlawful if you were to say that they definitely stole something when you couldn't prove it 100%. The same goes for anything that would fall under gross misconduct.

AgentProvocateur · 31/07/2014 20:02

Lally112, I'm in Scotland too and have given a bad reference when it's truthful - "so-and-so was regularly late, and was the subject of client complaints due to her attitude. I would not employ her again." All true and able to be proved.

greenfolder · 31/07/2014 20:26

You need too develop a thicker skin. They hired her from her interview, not your reference

museumum · 31/07/2014 20:43

You'd need a lot more than a slight niggling doubt to tick "no" to the question "can she do the job."!!

WhyOWhyWouldYou · 31/07/2014 21:42

Agent the you cannot give a bad reference line comes back to the fact that it is possible for someone to take you to court if your reference is deemed to have stopped them gaining employment, even if its true.

Most companies have strict policy on "no bad references", with an increasing number that will only write "x was employed from a - b as a ....", in order to protect themselves.

My mom has had to write references for some scum in her time and all she puts is the "x was employed..." line from above. If its a good employee she writes a glowing reference.