Advice please re: bad job reference leading to dismissal...
Discussion
Guys, I need some advice on behalf of a friend who works in retail (sales assistant).
She resigned from French Connection under a bit of a cloud - was already under HR 'wanrning' (late a lot and lied to protect a colleague), but got a job at Karen Millen very quickly.
However, on her first day at KM, the Manager told her that following references, they were terminating her contract! She later found out that the KM Manager popped in to see the FC Manager (same shopping centre) and spent a lot of time talking.
So these 'references' were probably verbal and unofficial. However, my guess is that whatever the FC Manager said was probably true, but I thought these days companies didn't give bad references? What recourse does she now have against FC, especially to stop them doing the same thing again?
Thanks in advance for all advice!!
She resigned from French Connection under a bit of a cloud - was already under HR 'wanrning' (late a lot and lied to protect a colleague), but got a job at Karen Millen very quickly.
However, on her first day at KM, the Manager told her that following references, they were terminating her contract! She later found out that the KM Manager popped in to see the FC Manager (same shopping centre) and spent a lot of time talking.
So these 'references' were probably verbal and unofficial. However, my guess is that whatever the FC Manager said was probably true, but I thought these days companies didn't give bad references? What recourse does she now have against FC, especially to stop them doing the same thing again?
Thanks in advance for all advice!!
Edited by Golden fleece on Wednesday 25th August 10:04
Thanks for all the input, guys! So it's not good news, but to be expected given her circumstances.
However, what can she do going forward to ensure she doesn't get any bad refs from FC for the next job?? Anything? How about writing to FC MD at Head Office threatening to sue? HO may at least then tell the FC Manager to 'put a sock in it' and give a neutral ref next time?
However, what can she do going forward to ensure she doesn't get any bad refs from FC for the next job?? Anything? How about writing to FC MD at Head Office threatening to sue? HO may at least then tell the FC Manager to 'put a sock in it' and give a neutral ref next time?
Thanks all. Looks like she has run out of options. 
Shame really, because she has worked for FC for 5 yrs and was a valuable and highly regarded member of staff until getting bored the past year or so and taking the piss a bit. Her biggest mistake was the misguided attempt to help out a colleague by lying about something quite serious (and then getting found out)!
Shame really, because she has worked for FC for 5 yrs and was a valuable and highly regarded member of staff until getting bored the past year or so and taking the piss a bit. Her biggest mistake was the misguided attempt to help out a colleague by lying about something quite serious (and then getting found out)!
AJS- said:
...In my experience few people are so bitter against a former employee that they wish to scupper their chances of getting work elsewhere. Though it sounds like this might be an exception.
That's the problem - her ex-FC Manager (female!) HATES her guts and was very jealous about her new job at Karen Millen. Otherwise, you are right - most employers wouldn't bother deliberately ruining someone's future job prospects.
Thanks for the input and advice. I agree - a hear-to-heart with the former Manager may be the only answer, but I'm not sure how easy this will be!
Even if she gets out of Fashion Retail, FC is her only longish-term job (she's only 25) and so a reference from them would always be sought by any future employer.
Even if she gets out of Fashion Retail, FC is her only longish-term job (she's only 25) and so a reference from them would always be sought by any future employer.
Broomsticklady said:
Difference tho between a formal reference from the HR dept and a word of mouth by the b
hy manager to her friend!!
Very good point! I think going forward, my friend should just refer all reference requests to the French Connection Head Office HR dept. They are the most likely to give a neutral ref, even after establishing the facts with the shop manager herself.hy manager to her friend!! CinqAbarth said:
As a retail area manager....
I can only back up what others have said - put down the head office HR dept. as the reference - which will usually just get a return of 'We employed Ms. X from <date> to <date> as <position>' .
HR depts. are paranoid about any kind of comeback, so rarely supply any more detail.
I was once caught out by something similar - and was called in to see HR and a Regional Manager, as some 'word of mouth' info. had got back to a new employer - I explained everything fully, and believe they knew they couldn't really take the word of mouth rumours over my word, so let it go.
However, one of the problems of 'high street fashion' is that the calibre of management is very poor (my current business has taken on managers from high street chains, but generally only at team leader or dept. manager for someone very good) - so I doubt many will adopt the very 'professional' attitude I experienced in similar circumstances.
Thanks for this input - very useful. My friend's mistake (apart from not being professional at work!) was to give her old Manager as her reference as opposed to the Head Office HR dept. However, it didn't help that the two stores were in the same shopping centre, virtually next door to each other - so very tempting for the new manager to just 'pop round' for an informal chat!I can only back up what others have said - put down the head office HR dept. as the reference - which will usually just get a return of 'We employed Ms. X from <date> to <date> as <position>' .
HR depts. are paranoid about any kind of comeback, so rarely supply any more detail.
I was once caught out by something similar - and was called in to see HR and a Regional Manager, as some 'word of mouth' info. had got back to a new employer - I explained everything fully, and believe they knew they couldn't really take the word of mouth rumours over my word, so let it go.
However, one of the problems of 'high street fashion' is that the calibre of management is very poor (my current business has taken on managers from high street chains, but generally only at team leader or dept. manager for someone very good) - so I doubt many will adopt the very 'professional' attitude I experienced in similar circumstances.
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