Is it illegal to give a bad reference?
UPON leaving a job, you might want to ask your employer for a reference to give in an indirect good word to future workplaces.
However, what happens if your employer wasn’t really impressed by you and wants to give a bad reference?
Some employers want references to get an insight into your character and work ethic[/caption]Is it illegal to give a bad reference?
When your employer writes you a reference, they must be fair and accurate.
If you think you’ve got an unfair reference that gives a bad representation of your time with the company, you can challenge it.
If your employer is not cooperating with you, then you have the right to claim damages in court.
Your employer needs to prove why he gave a bad reference such as a warning letter.
Meanwhile, you also need to prove why the reference letter was misleading or inaccurate and what opportunities you lost because of it.
To help build your case, you might want to look at earning legal aid to help cover your court case and Citizens Advice to get information on how to move forward.
Who can give me a reference?
If you think that your employer will give you a bad reference, there is surely someone else who might help you get a good word.
Some jobs will take references from people you’ve worked it.
We recommend that you ask for a reference from someone you work recently and closely with, preferably in a senior position.
Do I need a reference to get a job?
Not all jobs ask for references, however, they do support your profile when you’re trying to impress an employer who knows nothing about you.
A reference can help an employer to get an insight into your character and work ethic from another person who was in a similar position when you worked for them.
It helps them decide whether you will work great in their team and whether you are up for the job.
On your CV, you can put on a note which says, “References on request,” and then the employer will decide whether they need them or not.
Some employers leave space in the application for people to put in references, however, sometimes they are optional too.
Others do not mention anything about references and so you can decide whether to give your potential employer references or not.