wanting a personal reference from my team leader at work??

[itispersonal]

Currently being made redundant from my current job along with everyone else at my workplace(roughly a few hundred people).

Looking to get into my degree subject which isn't related to my current employment but the agencies are requesting a personal reference from my current employer. I have given my current team leader (TL)who I have been with for a year but my TL says it has to go to HR who just gives a generic reference of how long worked there, grade etc.

Am I wrong it would be nice/right for my TL to write a personal reference for me when asked by agencies, as if we weren't being made redundant and I was seeking employment elsewhere I am sure I would give my current TL details as a reference.

I appreciate they could then have 15 to 20 personal references to do with all the team being redundant and I know once officially made redundant and all the staff have gone I would give the HR address to new employers.

Sadly the number of legal claims by those who didn't like their reference means most workplaces ban personal references now.

It would be nice, yes, but your team leader doesn't have to do it and may not be allowed to. I doubt it will have much impact on your job search.

Sorry about the redundancy situation, and hope you find something else soon.

If your TL is also being made redundant too then it's not really fair to ask. Employers and universities that ask for references are used to impersonal ones, and won't judge you for it.

It would be nice if he/she could do that, yes. But if the (very very common) policy is that references are written by HR, then it would be wrong of you to want your team leader to go against that, especially as everyone is being made redundant.

Just for the future, it's not really on to give someone's details as a reference without checking with them first that they are happy for you to do so.