Page 2 | Help! I think my job offer is about to fall through…

supportneeded9 · 2025-04-01T09:32:59+00:00

I have just been made redundant after 3 years and my last day with the company was yesterday. I had been off sick since January due to stress at work (long story) I interviewed for a new job a few weeks ago and was offered the position. They contacted my referees yesterday and my former employer has replied asking them to provide my consent again in writing. I’ve never heard of this, it’s not their usual process and it’s making me anxious! I haven’t disclosed I was off sick (as far as I’m aware you don’t have to and they never asked anyway) I just told them I was being made redundant. I haven’t replied to the email yet. I don’t know what information they’ve requested from my old job so I don’t know what I’m consenting to!

ShhhhhItsASurprise · 01/04/2025 17:02

SandrenaIsMyBloodType · 01/04/2025 15:14

Could you reply to the former employer’s request for consent with something like “I give my consent for a factual reference confirming my job title and dates of employment to be provided”. Then you have not actually consented to them providing any other information and they may well ask for further consent if that is what they are intending but they may well just provide the factual reference.

Depending on the policy of the new employer and any recruitment requirements for the industry, the job may be withdrawn if sufficient information is not provided.

ExtraOnions · 01/04/2025 17:06

…but you have been off sick, it would be factual for them to say that. I doubt your new employer would withdraw a job offer for that, but they may well withdraw an offer if they don’t get any reference back at all

PhilippaGeorgiou · 01/04/2025 17:15

SandrenaIsMyBloodType · 01/04/2025 15:14

Could you reply to the former employer’s request for consent with something like “I give my consent for a factual reference confirming my job title and dates of employment to be provided”. Then you have not actually consented to them providing any other information and they may well ask for further consent if that is what they are intending but they may well just provide the factual reference.

That would raise so many red flags for me that I wouldn't bother asking for the reference - I would withdraw the offer.

FWIIW, many employers do not withdraw an offer on the basis of sickness if it is reaosnably explained and we can satisfy ourselves that the circumstances are such that it is unlikley to present a risk to us. If there are any concerns about that we (can't speak for every employer though) would get an OH report to satisfy ourselves. In the end, if we employ someone who takes the piss with sick leave then we have a long period of time when we can dismiss them - frustrating but it isn't a disaster. What we will never employ is someone who lies, omits or beats about the bush. They cannot be trusted. That is the most fundamental requirement for new hires - we have to trust them. So far the OP has not said anything untrue, they haven't omitted to give information they are asked for, so why would it be sensible to start trying a coverup now?

OP - you have two choices. Give consent or don't. You can then decide whether to head any mention of sick leave off at the past and tell them now - or you can wait and see whether they find out and discuss it with them then. But if you don't give consent you aren't getting the job offer confirmed anyway.

ShhhhhItsASurprise · 01/04/2025 17:52

PhilippaGeorgiou · 01/04/2025 17:15

That would raise so many red flags for me that I wouldn't bother asking for the reference - I would withdraw the offer.

FWIIW, many employers do not withdraw an offer on the basis of sickness if it is reaosnably explained and we can satisfy ourselves that the circumstances are such that it is unlikley to present a risk to us. If there are any concerns about that we (can't speak for every employer though) would get an OH report to satisfy ourselves. In the end, if we employ someone who takes the piss with sick leave then we have a long period of time when we can dismiss them - frustrating but it isn't a disaster. What we will never employ is someone who lies, omits or beats about the bush. They cannot be trusted. That is the most fundamental requirement for new hires - we have to trust them. So far the OP has not said anything untrue, they haven't omitted to give information they are asked for, so why would it be sensible to start trying a coverup now?

OP - you have two choices. Give consent or don't. You can then decide whether to head any mention of sick leave off at the past and tell them now - or you can wait and see whether they find out and discuss it with them then. But if you don't give consent you aren't getting the job offer confirmed anyway.

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Agree 100%.

I’d want to know how the OP was going to handle stress in the new role if they’d had months’ worth of absence. It may be that leaving is the solution, but I would probably want a chat about it.

thinkfast · 01/04/2025 18:01

OP - you’re getting a lot of misleading information on this thread that may sound worrying, but not all of it is true.

I suggest you ask MNHQ to move your thread to the employment section in the hope that you will get some accurate advice from HR/ employment professionals, instead of people presenting their employer’s policies and their own personal decision making process as if it is official ACAS guidance or a legal requirement for all employers.