Can a previous employer give you a bad reference

[user1497997754]

Just that really.....have been told that they can refuse to give a reference but not give a bad one

[BlessYourCottonSocks]

As most posters have said, you can do both - but frankly if your ex employer simply says, 'I am not prepared to give this person a reference' that tells the company a lot. You'd be unlikely to be offered the post I presume.