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Reference request - what to say?

66 replies

HonestyOrExpedience · 16/05/2022 12:14

Posting for traffic, and NC'd in case outing.

Last year I had someone in my team in an administrator role on a fixed-term contract. She was pleasant and hard-working but she just couldn't cut it at the job. I gave her hours and hours of additional support and training over and above what would usually be the case in that (or any) role; she had a lengthy induction; clear action plans; weekly 1:1s; access to all sorts of written guides/training/previous examples of work, including recordings of training sessions that she could repeat as needed; she had a buddy; I encouraged her to join supportive networks; we went through Occupational Health in case there were underlying issues and implemented their recommendations...you name it, I/we tried it but she was simply a square peg in a round hole. Her CV suggested she had done similar roles and she said all the right things at interview (although things she let slip while working with us made it clear there had been some embellishments and omissions) but although she certainly had some strengths and skills, they weren't the ones needed for this job. When it came to the end of her FTC we let her go and didn't seek to explore renewing/extending her contract.

I have received a reference request for her and one of the questions is "would you re-employ X in a similar role?" Now I know I could simply tick 'yes' and she'll be someone else's problem, there'd be unlikely to be any comeback on me, but I have to sign a declaration that I've given honest information and the real answer is no, we absolutely wouldn't employ her again in that or any vaguely similar role!

WWYD?

OP posts:
HonestyOrExpedience · 16/05/2022 12:15

Sorry, I meant to add - if I tick 'no' I have to complete a mandatory field explaining why not.

OP posts:
savethatkitty · 16/05/2022 12:17

Definitely tell the truth. Tick no & tell them honestly why. I've had many a dud employee because the referee told a lie. It helps no-one!

iex · 16/05/2022 12:19

do you have documented evidence of her difficulties in the role?

Shamoo · 16/05/2022 12:19

Leave it blank. Most company policies are that you only confirm that the person worked with you between x and y dates. We wouldn’t be allowed to say more than that for this exact reason. Just don’t answer, and if pushed say policy prevents you answering.

7Worfs · 16/05/2022 12:20

You need to confirm the references policy with your HR - in the UK most companies only confirm dates of employment and job title.

HerbivorousRex · 16/05/2022 12:21

I’d just say that you’re unable to give a personal reference but you can confirm factual information (job title, dates worked etc).

purplecorkheart · 16/05/2022 12:21

Have you documented evidence of the steps you took. If you have I would just tick no and leave it at that. If you have no documented evidence I would return it unticked.

rnsaslkih · 16/05/2022 12:21

I agree leave it blank.

Nobody can force you to tick these boxes.

give the dates only

ElCoh · 16/05/2022 12:22

Tick and say no and explain why. I would.

Muchtoomuchtodo · 16/05/2022 12:23

I’d tell the truth. You have examples of the additional support needed and your company decided not to take them in at the end of the FTC. That’s all you need to say.

LordEmsworth · 16/05/2022 12:24

I just wouldn't complete it.

As PP have said, where I work it's "x worked here between these dates" and nothing more. It's a very handy get-out in an awkward situation...

Their employment decisions are not your ressponsibility.

Aria999 · 16/05/2022 12:26

Call the hiring manager on the phone and explain?

HonestyOrExpedience · 16/05/2022 12:27

Thanks all. Unfortunately the reference is set up as a form within an IT system with mandatory fields, so I can't submit it without ticking either yes or no. If it were just a Word form or an email that I could send back while leaving things blank I'd have much less angst!

OP posts:
AgentProvocateur · 16/05/2022 12:28

Tell the truth. Tick the no
box and say that despite additional
support and training, she was unable to fulfil the requirements of the role. And then give your phone number so that they can call you if they need more detail.

these references that just give dates are worse than useless. I want to know what the person was like as an employee so that I don’t waste my time and resources by offering the job to someone who won’t be able to do it.

Lokiju · 16/05/2022 12:29

Shamoo · 16/05/2022 12:19

Leave it blank. Most company policies are that you only confirm that the person worked with you between x and y dates. We wouldn’t be allowed to say more than that for this exact reason. Just don’t answer, and if pushed say policy prevents you answering.

Absolutely this.

SoggyPaper · 16/05/2022 12:31

I’d just confirm the dates of employment and role and nothing else. If the online form doesn’t allow that, I’d email the person who sent it just confirming the dates and role and offering nothing else.

Loads of employers don’t even seek references any longer. Even if they ask for them, and some don’t even do that.

Notadramallama · 16/05/2022 12:33

I wouldn't fill in the form then. Just send a message confirming the job title and dates of employment. I would never complete a form like that for a previous employee.

Ilovewillow · 16/05/2022 12:35

I would tick no and state that it isn't company policy to remploy or if you do remploy state you are unable to provide comment due to company policy

AlternativePerspective · 16/05/2022 12:35

I didn’t think that was even legal any more?

My understanding is that the only information an employer can give now is whether someone worked for them and what dates.

LanaGardner · 16/05/2022 12:36

I had to go and check something, I honestly thought it was against the law to write a bad reference but that's apparently a myth.
I'm another one for leave it blank.
Unless her new position is exactly the same as the job with yourself I don't think you need to worry about it.

Searchingsound · 16/05/2022 12:36

Don’t fill in it. People have been sued over bad references - never say anything else apart from confirming dates worked

BritInUS1 · 16/05/2022 12:39

I wouldn't complete it if it was set up like this

They can either email it so that you have the option to complete the parts you want to or you don't do It at all !

catgirl1976 · 16/05/2022 12:40

As others have said just confirm her job title and dates of employment. You’re not obliged to give any further information than that and most companies only give this “tombstone” type of reference now to avoid issues.

HummingQuietly · 16/05/2022 12:41

It's not your problem that they have created a "mandatory" form. It doesn't oblige you to jump through all their hoops. Lots of big companies won't do more than confirm they worked there and for how long. I suggest you imagine you were in that position and do that. Be polite and happy to help but do it in your chosen medium (an email or letter) not their form. It is really normal these days for people to be unable to provide what they are asking, form or not.

GodspeedJune · 16/05/2022 12:42

Leave blank if you haven’t got good feedback. It seems spiteful to tick no when you said yourself she was pleasant and hard working, but just not a good fit for the role. She could potentially persue you if she’s given feedback that her offer has been revoked due to references.

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