Someone has slandered DSis to her new job ...

[Sahkoora]

My DSis has worked really hard to get into her dream field and was over the moon last week when she got a brilliant job, earning a great wage. Due to start Monday.

Today, new job phoned her to say they'd had a call from someone telling them she is a drug addict. DSis has been a recreational user in the past, but these experiences are part of what got her the job, as she is working with addicts. DSis has told them it's not true and has offered to be tested to prove it, but they have told her that her new job isn't certain, and she's not sure what is happening now.

She doesn't know who it is, but suspects her SIL, who has form and hates her for "ruining" her DP's life.

Surely they can't turn her down on hearsay? And is there anything she can do about whoever it is who has told these lies?

How would SIL know about the new job & the employer's contact details? Is she still with the DP who would have told SIL?

Can you clarify how dsis being a recreational drug user 'helped her get the job'

I'm confused

Yes, she's with her DP still. It's with a well known local company, would be very easy for SIL to have Googled contact details. SIL openly hates DSis, even physically attacked her in the past.

DSis thinks DP told his parents, SIL lives with them.

She should ask to meet with HR or those who are employing her to discuss this fully.

It's quite common for drug intervention programmes to employ people with past experience of substance misuse. It's called being "expert by experience". They wouldn't employ someone who is still using and that is what it appears they've been told.

I said she had been a recreational user in the past. We're talking about 15 years ago. Her new job is working with addicts. I think the fact that she has first hand knowledge of drugs as well as a good deal of academic training helped her to get the job.

She needs to stay very calm and speak to HR. It will be obvious that it was a malicious call if she can keep her head and deal with this in a mature and professional way.

Exactly, ilovesooty. DSis has volunteered with charities for many years helping addicts and the fact that she doesn't present an authoritarian or starchy figure is helpful in this type of role.

I agree Sahkoora

A good few of our workers get their jobs through peer mentoring and volunteering.

Your sister must be devastated. I hope she can get this sorted out.

I hope so too. SIL has never approved of DSis because she didn't earn much as a student and volunteer, but when DSis gets a really well paid job at the end of it all, she does this. It doesn't make sense, but DSis just doesn't have any enemies apart from her.

Have PMd you.

You made it sound as though your sister divulged at her interview she used to be a recreational user? As you then went on to say that was part of the reason she got the job? or however you termed it in your original post

I don't think the OP made it sound like that at all.

This isn't as much of a problem as it could be, if the job already knew that she has a history of drugs. They should have some understanding.

I'd ask for a face-to-face meeting if I was her, and use it to assure her that she is clean. She can repeat her offer to do a drugs test, which shows willing - I'm not sure whether legally they'd be able to request one, at this point, but if she's willing to give one that is a good sign.

She needs to get in touch with them and get them to confirm what they are going to decide.

They shouldn't go on hearsay and they shouldn't take some mental case's word for it either.

I say shouldn't loosely - but of course they can.

Did she sign a contract or was it a verbal acceptance pending references?
Can she can offer extra references/character references?

And also I would keep how this pans out to herself/you - and tell DP to not tell his family!! Nasty!!

Thank you :)