So my friend applied for a job in a timber merchants which he got. He’s 62 and the employer ideally wanted someone younger and asked if he’d possibly consider working beyond retirement to which he replied he wasn’t sure. He was due to start on Monday but yesterday he got a phone call saying due to a bad reference he couldn’t have the job. Around the same time a local timber merchants went into receivership and so we smelled a rat given that he could cherry pick any of the lads that had just lost their jobs.
My friend phoned his previous employer (he’d worked there for 25 years ) and it turns out he’s never even asked him for a reference and when my friend pushed him on the issue he said “ Well I’ve spoken to someone that says he’s seen you stealing” which is rubbish!!!!
Our suspicions have been confirmed and he’s been interviewing younger people from the timber yard that has gone into receivership… this has to be age discrimination and slander surely???
my good hardworking decent friend is beside himself , not only has he lost a job which he was due to start on Monday he’s also been falsely accused of theft .. his ex boss says he was never asked for a reference and if he had have been he would’ve given him an exemplary one .. can anyone help please ? He’s been stitched up!