Notice Period vs Walking Out

[st_files]

What are the ramifications of just walking out of your job as opposed to serving your notice period? AFAIK companies are unable to give negative references so whats to lose?

[bonsai]

They'll refuse to give a reference which is just as telling to HR.

[sleep envy]

they can also give a 'no comment' reference which speaks volumes

in business, don't burn any bridges

[st_files]

Ahhh...didnt know they could refuse to give one /do a no comment.

Am I right in saying that if they do choose to give one companies wont give any negative feedback? Thats the info I've been given here by my HR dept (when discussing reference requests from former employees)?

[Muzzer]

st_files said:

Ahhh...didnt know they could refuse to give one /do a no comment.

Am I right in saying that if they do choose to give one companies wont give any negative feedback? Thats the info I've been given here by my HR dept (when discussing reference requests from former employees)?

IINM, you can't give a reference which directly leads to the person not getting a job.

That can be construed as you can't give negative feedback.

However, decent HR folk know what a decent and a crap reference is and know how to write one to convey what they want it to convey....

[st_files]

Cheers for the replies fellas, very helpful.

[Chris_OCR]

No they cannot give bad references etc however they can give facts, IE X had 28 days sickness last year.

[Chris_OCR]

Also to add, you will be surprised how many times the person taking our the reference says "off record"

I have come across this several times and employers are more then happy (most of the time) to give an "off the record" reference, IE a bad one.

[Fittster]

Most references just confirm the dates you worked for a firm.

[stumpage]

Muzzer said:

st_files said:

Ahhh...didnt know they could refuse to give one /do a no comment.

Am I right in saying that if they do choose to give one companies wont give any negative feedback? Thats the info I've been given here by my HR dept (when discussing reference requests from former employees)?

IINM, you can't give a reference which directly leads to the person not getting a job.

That can be construed as you can't give negative feedback.

However, decent HR folk know what a decent and a crap reference is and know how to write one to convey what they want it to convey....

You can give what ever reference you like as long as it is factual and not a personal view point. Eg. Mr X has been in our employment for 6 months, he was late 30% of the time and off sick for 20% of the time. He generated 40% sales volume against the company average. etc, etc.

If the ex employee asking for a reference kicks off, then all the ex employer has to do is produce the factual data to back it up.

[spikeyhead]

What you can't do is give a reference that isn't factual.

If it is factual then your current employer is perfectly entitled to put "walked out without working his notice period" in a reference and they would be right to do so.

You can't argue that it's not true as it is, and they will doubtless have records to prove it.

I'd happily write a bad reference if the need arose. I've seen other references that are bad, some overtly so, but more often there are covert messages in there that tell all that need be told without saying so directly.

[robsti]

st_files said:

What are the ramifications of just walking out of your job as opposed to serving your notice period? AFAIK companies are unable to give negative references so whats to lose?

I think you might loose any holiday pay due to you! or you could use this as part of your notice.

Dont believe everything you here about not being allowed to give a bad ref!

[edc]

They could sack you for gross misconduct; they could perfectly legitimately write 'had 28 days (or whatever the number) unauthorised absence' etc.

[VegasRain]

It depends on the contract but if you've just been paid and have no holiday/bonus outstanding, there is nothing to stop you waving as you walk out. Be careful what bridges you burn though because you may need to cross them again one day!

In most cases an employer won't WANT you to stay, especially if you are going to a competitor!!!
Try to be honest with them and explain there's no point you staying but you'll finish the week.

REFERENCES - In my experience employers can't be bothered to give a bad reference unless they really hold a grudge. If a local competitor wants the reference, they are just as likely to say, "Yeah he was awesome, hire him" if someone was crap; just to mess them up!

Edited by VegasRain on Friday 26th March 10:26

[Si 330]

About 10 years ago I started a new job in the first week realised it was a mistake. Went to see the MD explained to him his company wasn't for me, he wanted me to work a months notice. I laughed cleared my desk and walked out it has not come back to bite me yet.