I've got a problem, and thought with the amount of people here who manage personnel, there'd have to be some good advice. I've got an employer who (I feel) isn't giving me even close to a fair shake. Story follows: I was a mechanic for a number of years at an independant shop, where I started out sweeping floors, and worked up to diagnostic/driveability tech. The shop was a little place, owned by two brothers, who I liked a lot. I never cheated them, or lied, pilfered, padded the timesheet, etc. Always did my best (regardless of how good or not that was...). While I was there, I went through some problems with my marriage, and was usually in a pretty foul mood - maybe some of you guys will understand - but I still always tried to treat these guys right. I really looked up to these guys, and would have done anything for them. One time, when someone was loitering outside one of the brother's house, I followed him home to make sure he wouldn't have to face any trouble alone. Not that he asked me to (and not that I'm all that tough), but that's the way I felt about these guys. I was offered a job in a dealership for a lot more money, and told the brothers I was leaving, and they got kind of angry, and complained that they wanted a chance to beat the offer. So they gave me a $5/hr bump and a 4 day week. I stayed another year before going to work for USDA (big mistake). But trying to get back into the automotive field, I find out that these 'friends' of mine talk **** to anyone in an auto shop calling for a reference. Basically they say I can't be trusted, not honest, bad at***ude, poor performance. Well, they might have a point on my having a raw temper, but that was several years ago, and the marriage thing has calmed down. None of the other stuff is remotely true. So WTF do I do trying to get a job as a service advisor if the only credentials I have are at a shop that wants to stab me in the back?
you should drop in "just to say hi" and see what is goin' on. a little casual conversation may put an end to the ****. or,beat 'em with an axe handle.
If you wanted to you could go to court over it. At a former job I was a manager, my boss said if any company calls for references DO NOT say anything negative about the employee's personality, work ethic etc only if they did or did not show up on time. Not sure what all the legality was but basically it's slander..
I think the best thing would be to drop in and ask them if you can use them as a reference. Be honest and let them know how much you respected them; etc. At the least that let's them know directly, that you know they will be contacted and that you will know what they say. If that does not work, be honest in your interview. Let them know what happened and why and how you have grown. Your skills should speak for themselves as much as your work history. I know I respect it when an potential employee lets me know of something face to face, not for me to find out later. It lets them know more about your character. If that fails go with the Italians, tell em Vito sent you...
check into your state laws... in Az, you can only state that you would/ would not rehire the person. any elaboration, or bad mouthing could get you sued. funny story, my family owns a comercial AC company, and an old friend of my father calls up asking for references on an ex employee. My dad tells him why the guy was fired... cought by night security at the job site steeling our tools and ladders! It turns out the guy was sitting in the office during the call. Shortly after my dad got a letter from the guy's lawyer, and thankfully the old friend hired him to keep him from taking it further. so look into your rights, it may be the best way to go.
First, I would go, peaceably, to the owners and tell them your concerns. Just say how much you valued your time at their shop, and it was strictly for business reasons that you left, and you really hope that they will come through for you as a reference, as you really tried to be a good employee for them (remind them of the times you went above and beyond). If that doesn't work, then you should warn potential employers that this shop is badmouthing you. Describe in neutral language--don't be a whiner-- the cir***stances under which you left, and why they might have resentment toward you. Also, are there any coworkers or customers you could list as references, from that time period, to counteract the owners' ill will? The key is to present yourself as rational and in the right, while making them look like sour apples. Let them hang themselves. Good luck. Tucker
I think you should hire Cartman and kick them in the nuts. You obviosly hurt there feelings and thought of you as part of "the family". These guys on the HAMB are right -drop in and see wtf?
Get a reference from them in writing and if it's not correct then you can have an attorney handle it. Probably a letter from an attorney is all that it will take.
Aaron is right- It is a real bad business move to give any negative information about a [ast employee without PROOF of the negative behavior (formal write ups and such). You should do a "reference check" yourself. call up like you are a potential employer and ask standard employement questions. you can record the conversation if it is legal in your state. if not wrtie down everything they say. If it is not to your liking and you think you can control your "raw temper" go back to the shop and just "drop in" talk with them and tell them you are back on the market looking for a job. Ask them if it is cool if you use them as a reference. If they are cool do another reference check a couple of days later....Again record if you can if not write it down....If it is still a negative refernce call a labor attorney..... DO NOT CONFRONT THEM! Always a bad move....it is standard if an employee is less than positive that we only confirm dates of employment...most employers know what that means...if they were a good employee we give whatever info we can to help them. Good luck...
Your former employer really can only say two things: 1) Verify that you did indeed work there before. 2) State if you are qualified to be rehired. i.e. did you give proper notice etc.? Anything else is off limits. A potential employer really needs to listen with a grain of salt to anything a former employer has to say about a former employee. I like to say that no pancake is so flat that it doesn't have two sides. I hold it akin to listening to what my wife has to say about her ex-husband, she may hold certain feelings but it is really irrelevant in our house. Same goes at work. Just because you were ready to move on to something else in the course of your career doesn't make you a "bad" employee and any employer worth working for should recognize that and let you stand on your own merits.
Actually my experience has been that there is very little you can do. Legaly all they are allowed to say is that you worked for them and what your job was called. That's it, but folks in the human resources business live in a different world than we do and getting one of them to testify would be near impossible. Probably the best thing you can do is go over coffee in hand and visit, try and make some sort of peace with them, or just say **** it and keep looking for a job.
If you can prove they are doing that, that's slanderous and they are liable for it. You can force them to stop slanderign you and make them pay you for lost money as a result of the slander they perpetuate. Get a lawyer, make them pay. I would not go confront them. Confrontations rarily go well. Gather what you need to support yourself and make them stop through legal manipulation. ****s to get the sharks (lawyers) involved but it'll protect you in the long run. I have a simliar situation where I believe a former employer may be slandering me, but haven't figured out a way to test or prove they are. Everyjob for a management level position I've applied for I've been a contender for unti lthey start checking references. This is the only job I was ever term'd from and it was lost under questionable cir***stances. Everyother job has been a positive experience and they were happy I was moving on to bigger and better. I'd love to sue my former boss, and the company he works for, for slander.
If your prospective employer has any smarts at all he will care most about a couple of things. How long did you work there, and do you have a criminal background. If you were with these brothers a long time any fool will ***ume they kept you for a reason. If the cops don't want you the cops don't want you. In my field the more bad you have to say about a person prospecting the more interesting they are, what your old brothers aren't realizing is that they remember you and have much to say, as opposed to the wallpaper employee they can't even remember. The brothers babble is just noise, they probably miss you do'ing all the work, and the peace of mind of your honesty.
First of all, I wanna' thank all you guys who took a few to respond. I really appreciate it. As a matter of fact, I am a quarter Sicilian. But, I'm afraid it just ain't the right quarter - I've never got away with the 'tough guy' stuff... Either get my *** kicked, or busted, or (likely) both. Also, I did go down to visit the bro's down there once; the one had the audacity to tell me he recommended I look for work outside the automotive field. Some of you guys would have been proud of me for keeping my cool that afternoon; others would have been disgusted I didn't kick his *** on the spot. My own opinion changes dependent on how broke I am at the moment. But again, thanks everyone for all the kind words; it makes it a little less depressing to think about! -bill
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