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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Secretly reduce my work output

43 replies

Tinsel57 · 02/12/2020 23:19

I’ve got a new job and my manager still hasn’t provided my reference after 5 weeks of being sent it. I’ve asked around 3 times whether it has been done and the same answer keeps coming back ..... right yes I’m going to do it tomorrow or this week. I’m getting annoyed. My new job won’t give me a start date until they receive it. I just wonder what’s taking so long. I’m secretly going on a protest. Productivity will reduce slightly. Not enough for it to be noticed but just to get satisfaction! How can I get my reference...

OP posts:
NoPainNoTartine · 03/12/2020 10:10

@SpaceOp

I don't really understand this. The new job won't confirm your role until they've got a reference from your old job? That's a bit batshit. The most I've ever heard is that you are told that the job can be withdrawn if it turns out you lied on your CV about previous roles. In that case, they don't need a reference from your current boss. They need formal confirmation from HR that you worked at this employer from date x to date y. And that's it.
great, but that's so unhelpful.

Companies have different rules and requirements. They may have very good reasons behind it, they may not. Either way, if you want the job and it's legal and reasonable, it's not the time to complain about it. You can still raise it later.

NoPainNoTartine · 03/12/2020 10:12

Not sure what "references" you do mean, I am guessing a confirmation from employment from HR won't be sufficient?

Just write your own, print it and bring it to your manager for signature.
Offer to email it so he can tweak if if he wants.

Disfordarkchocolate · 03/12/2020 10:34

I had a manager like this. I now ask new employers to contact HR directly.

LimitIsUp · 03/12/2020 10:36

Couldn't your new employer telephone your current manager for a verbal reference?

VinylDetective · 03/12/2020 10:37

The new job won't confirm your role until they've got a reference from your old job? That's a bit batshit

Far from being batshit, it’s standard practice in a lot of industries, hence offers being made subject to references.

If I were you I’d take the excellent advice to provide information the manager can just cut and paste. I’d also get your new employer’s HR department to hassle him.

TheCrowsHaveEyes · 03/12/2020 10:38

Reducing your work output is petty and unprofessional. Not traits you'd want on a reference. Hmm
You just need to keep chasing your manager and HR. There's absolutely no point writing a reference for yourself since depending on the sector as PPs have said, the reference may be a tick-box form provided by your new employer.

amusedbush · 03/12/2020 10:53

@SpaceOp

I don't really understand this. The new job won't confirm your role until they've got a reference from your old job? That's a bit batshit. The most I've ever heard is that you are told that the job can be withdrawn if it turns out you lied on your CV about previous roles. In that case, they don't need a reference from your current boss. They need formal confirmation from HR that you worked at this employer from date x to date y. And that's it.
I was offered an internal promotion, having been with the employer for 7 years. It was conditional on receipt of two satisfactory references and they wouldn't confirm anything until they'd received them. The standard reference template asks specific questions about the candidate's suitability for various aspects of the new role.

In the end, my previous manager wrote a load of lies about my performance under them and totally downplayed the achievements I'd spoken about in my interview for the new role, so the offer was withdrawn.

It's definitely not always as simple as confirming dates of employment.

LimitIsUp · 03/12/2020 19:33

Jesus - what did you do about that Amusedbush?

SpaceOp · 04/12/2020 10:30

@amusedbush I think an internal promotion is different.

@VinylDetective
The reality is that many firms have policies that they will not provide external references outside confirming that a person worked somewhere from x date to y date with a specific job title and was in good standing (or whatever wording they use). So any company that insists on a personal reference from current employer would struggle. [certainly, the large big corporate I worked at had a policy that we were not allowed to provide "personal" references in our capacity as an employee of that organisation. All such reference requests had to be passed to HR].

OP should therefore be able to get this type of reference from HR and not wait for her boss.

amusedbush · 04/12/2020 10:34

[quote SpaceOp]@amusedbush I think an internal promotion is different.

@VinylDetective
The reality is that many firms have policies that they will not provide external references outside confirming that a person worked somewhere from x date to y date with a specific job title and was in good standing (or whatever wording they use). So any company that insists on a personal reference from current employer would struggle. [certainly, the large big corporate I worked at had a policy that we were not allowed to provide "personal" references in our capacity as an employee of that organisation. All such reference requests had to be passed to HR].

OP should therefore be able to get this type of reference from HR and not wait for her boss.[/quote]
Yeah, I agree with you there as my employer asked for the same very specific and detailed personal reference from everyone and it was a headache. When I first got a job there (I worked in three different departments over the 7 years so internal moves were easier), it took weeks and weeks to get my start date because a previous employer would only confirm dates of employment and it ping-ponged between them for ages.

amusedbush · 04/12/2020 10:43

@LimitIsUp

Jesus - what did you do about that Amusedbush?
I left Grin

In all seriousness, I spoke to the person directly and she was as cold as ice, said flat out that she was "just being honest". I was gobsmacked because she had been kept in the loop about several large projects I'd undertaken off my own bat where I completely overhauled processes, streamlining them and massively improving outputs. She told the hiring manager that she'd seen no evidence of business improvement from me in the three years I'd been with her, which made it look like I'd lied about my achievements.

The hiring panel wouldn't let me submit an additional reference in support of my application either.- apparently it was against HR policy. I went to the union and they said that references are subjective and because it was a one-off, I couldn't pursue a complaint of bullying. There was absolutely nothing I could do.

However, I'd been mulling over doing a PhD for quite some time and I used that rage to fuel my search. The job offer was pulled last November and in January I had a successful interview for a fully funded scholarship. I'm now six months into my studies and I couldn't be happier that I didn't get that job in the end Smile

(As an aside which made me smile, the hiring panel said the reference had made them nervous because it was a Very Important Job and they needed to be absolutely sure they had the right candidate who could provide continuity for the team. Three weeks ago I got an automated vacancies email and they're advertising the post again because the person who got it has left already Grin)

Ilovesugar · 04/12/2020 11:00

My work don’t do reference, I would be screwed 🤣

VinylDetective · 04/12/2020 11:15

@Ilovesugar

My work don’t do reference, I would be screwed 🤣
They have a legal obligation to provide a a reference. Otherwise they’d be disadvantaging you as very few employers - if any - hire staff without them.
Ineedaduvetday · 05/12/2020 05:37

In my last role management were not allowed to give references, only HR. Even then HR confirmed the dates you worked there and job title on leaving only.

wilsontribe07 · 05/12/2020 06:36

Write the reference yourself and email it to your manager for their approval and signature. They can edit details if they want.

daisypond · 05/12/2020 07:59

They have a legal obligation to provide a a reference. Otherwise they’d be disadvantaging you as very few employers - if any - hire staff without them.

They do not have a legal obligation to provide a reference at all.

VinylDetective · 05/12/2020 08:50

@daisypond

They have a legal obligation to provide a a reference. Otherwise they’d be disadvantaging you as very few employers - if any - hire staff without them.

They do not have a legal obligation to provide a reference at all.

There’s a legal obligation in financial services. I assumed it was the same across the board. It appears I was wrong.
LimitIsUp · 06/12/2020 14:30

Glad it worked out in the end amusedbush

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