Should I give a bad reference

[NotABeliever]

I have received a request for references for someone I was directly supervising until last month. He's resigned after 11 months but we were in the process of starting a disciplinary for dishonesty, poor time keeping and performance issues. It looks like he's been offered a job in a charity and I don't know what to do.

We only provide factual references- so and so worked here from x date to x date in this role - unless someone has been dismissed which he wasn't.

I'm loathe to letting a charity hire such a bad person. But I can get in trouble as I'm not supposed to give references, HR is.

What would you do? I have the mobile number and email address of the person seeking the references.

I would tell the person that you’re ‘declining to give a reference’—they’ll know what you mean and you won’t get into legal trouble.

If you feel uncomfortable then I would just decline to give one.

I'd give the bare minimum of reference that you can, as you said "X worked here between Y and Z dates." Hopefully that will speak for itself and you won't be at risk of any backlash.

If you're not supposed to give references then don't get involved. Leave it to hr and tell the person requesting that.

Just give a factual reference, thank your lucky stars they're gone and hope the charity is a better fit for them.

The thing is, I need to pass the request to HR and protocol is for them to give everyone a basic reference unless they were dismissed.

Speak to HR. Don't do anything that could get you in trouble or could leave you/the company open to complaints.

If your workplace policy is that all reference requests are dealt with by HR then that's what you do.

Well if YOUR not supposed to give references anyway why would you risk your own job to do this? Batshit. Let HR deal with it.

So do that then as they weren’t dismissed.

Surely you just speak to HR and suggest that the organisation should decline to give a reference on this occasion?

Do just leave HR to it, its none of your business.

Refer to HR and explain the situation

I don't understand why you're giving this any thought. You have a policy that says you're supposed to pass on reference requests to HR. So do that.

Just refer it to HR. With respect it's none of your business and not your job to police who this charity can and cannot hire. If he's as shit as you say he is they'll get rid of him themselves.

I would pass the request HR and let them deal with it as per policy, and not think another thing about it.

Do not put your own job on the line for this person.

Refer to HR. If you flout company policy you lay yourself open to problems.

Then guess what, he wins. You lose.

The charity will find out soon enough he's crap.

I'd write this to HR

Dear HR,
I have a reference request for Pete Bodgut - Scarper. I have passed this request onto you as per protocol.

I am concerned that it is a charity he is applying for.

I need to communicate to you we were in process of starting a disciplinary for dishonesty, poor time-keeping and performance issues.

He is definitely NOT someone we could ever recommend .

Obviously out company policy is that your HR team give any requested references.

I leave it in your capable hands.

Just refer to HR and keep out of it.

Honestly, as is often said on here, 'it's not your circus, not your monkeys'.

Then just pass the request onto HR and tell the person who requested the reference that you cannot suply one due to company policy

You pass the request on to hr as per company policy and leave it at that.

Thank you! I will pass on to HR and leave it up to them

What sort of dishonesty? Because it seems like you're very much enjoying how much distress this conundrum is bringing you? Like it's a huge ethical dilemma that's causing you to lose sleep, wondering if Mi5 might look into any discrepancies. Just leave it with HR and if you must keep it factual and move on.

I wouldn't do this

HR would already be aware of the processes commenced before he left

Also, the tone of telling HR what to do will piss them right off. HR are always up their own arse.

...are you serious? Just pass to HR as your organisation requires and get on with your life, unless you want to be looking at your own disciplinary for deliberately flouting process.