Reference re: a former direct report

[MyDarlingWhatIfYouFly]

I’ve been asked to provide a reference for a former direct report of mine - neither of us work for the company any more.

He was ok at his job, but I had to put a warning on his HR file for misuse of the company credit card - it was more misunderstanding than deliberate fraud, but I am now debating whether I should mention it or not, or even if I should provide a reference at all.

I’ve tried to look up what my personal liability would be, but it’s not clear as I don’t work at my old firm now. If I don’t provide this reference it’s possible that he won’t get an offer.

Any advice? I’m really stuck with what to do for the best - I don’t want to ruin his career but also I have my own reputation and potential liability to consider - thanks!

You don’t have to mention it if you don’t want to. If you’re unsure, just give a factual reference, yes he worked here from blank to blank.

You can just tell him to contact HR at your mutual former employer if you want.

Presumably if it was a while since he was your direct report, he's burned some other bridges in the meantime for why he's coming to you for a reference, which would be a red flag to me unless he's explained to you that he's been out of work since then or similar.

I personally wouldn't and would direct him to HR department. You could also just state that he worked from date 1 to date 2 and his work was satisfactory.

Actually, that is a very good point unless you both left the company recently.

I certainly wouldn't put anything negative in the reference. You no longer work together so that's not really fair.

If you don't want to say he's acceptable at least, don't do the reference at all an just say you think it best he asks someone still working there.

Just put you worked with him between x dates and he was proficient at his job. If you thought him pleasant as an individual then put that also.

You don't need to go into loads of detail.

Don't mention it!

'John and I worked together from x date to y date. He reported to me in his role as... His duties included x, y, z' the end.

No of course you can’t mention the cc. If it was a misunderstanding as you say why would you mention it? No one is perfect. What was he like at his job?

Not true because you usually have to provide references for your two most recent employers. He might have worked his most recent job for 5 years and still need to use OP as his second ref.

I’d just say:
X worked under me from Y date to Z date at ABC company.

Or as others have suggested direct them to HR at your old company.

I can’t go into too much detail, but basically he didn’t read the company policy and so used it inappropriately. I believe he didn't intend to steal company money, but he was negligent. We work in finance so it’s a bit more of an issue than if he worked in another department as we are responsible for these policies and should set an example.

I really, really wouldn’t do this, unless it’s an entitled bland and factual one (he worked in X role from Y dates) as PP suggests.

You do not want to screw him over. But equally, you don’t want to mislead another employer into thinking he’s more than OK or that he’s competent when, on credit card matters at least, he’s not.

That’s particularly the case if it’s a small industry - you don’t want to get a reputation as someone who recommended a duff colleague.

Thank you very much for all your thoughts, there’s a definite consensus. I think I will go with the bland and factual reply!

I was always told never to give a reference it had to go through HR. Depends whether you have been asked for a professional reference or a personal one?
Some jobs require both, really depends on the position he has applied for .

Bloody hell you actually thinking of mentioning this card business on a reference !
poor man like you say it wasn’t fraud or theft he just didn’t follow the policy properly

I hope you never make a mistake !

You’re not obliged to do this you know and the fact you were asked for it without him approaching you is a bit rude on his part. I would generally ask someone before putting them down as a reference and I only supply them for people that I would genuinely say good things about. I would refer them back to the company for an HR reference.

Not reading the policy, especially when finance owns the policy is not a simple mistake. Everyone has to sign something to say that they have read and understood the policy before they are issued the card. These controls are very important, especially when it resulted in what the company would class as personal expenditure on the card and this person was in a management position in finance. If it was a simple error I wouldn’t even be thinking about it.

I wouldn’t give a reference for someone where I no longer work for the company you had in common. It’s basically a personal reference not a business one isn’t it.

if you do - you can say what’s factually correct (positive or negative) but again, I’d not get involved as there were issues and I don’t think it’s your place to say so as you don’t work there anymore.

I’d decline and tell him to go back to the company your both worked for to get a “worked here between x and x date” reference.