I was recently dismissed from a job with a law firm, the reason was told to me as: It just isn't working out.

jennlstarnes

They can only bad mouth you if
A) You gave them a reason to do so
B) You list them as a reference

If you were there only for a short time, it proabbly honestly wasn't working out. That doesn't mean they hat eyou or think you're incompetent, necessarily. I have hired people that I thought would be a good fit and it turns out they just weren't. It's a hiring mistake.

The important thing is to have an answer ready when someone asks you about your short stint. Try, "The job description that I was hired under was not accurate, and the position turned out to not be a good fit for either side."

leysarob

The honest truth -- when the law firm is called for a reference, the caller will ask, "Is this former employee eligible for rehire?" The firm will answer, "no."

That's reference talk for "don't hire this person!" It's legal. It's clean. And there's not a thing you can do about it.

Your best best is to explain that your employment didn't work out with that previous employer due to personality conflicts, or something to that affect. Explain it up front -- honesty is important to a future employer.

ChinHoYang

Why do people think that a bad reference exposes an employer to some type of claim? An ex-employer is only liable for a bad reference if it is defamatory or if its an invasion of privacy. While most employers won't give out any information anyway, successful lawsuits over bad references are rare.

A reference is defamatory only if the information that's given is false. Opinions generally are not defamatory. So, if you were fired for failing a drug test, the employer could tell that to a prospective employer and have no liability. If they said you were a crack addict, they would have liablity because a drug test does not show whether a person is addicted.

Most prospective employers who ask for references get you to sign a consent form so they can get information from your ex-employers. With the consent, there is no invasion of privacy because you gave the ex-employer permission.

In this day and age, all this is mostly legal theory, because employers don't usually give out much information other than hire dates. However, some of the answers said that a bad reference is automatically defamatory or an invasion of privacy, and that is not remotely true.

blueman

By the laws of most states they can only tell the truth. They can only give vague answers like your were fired, you quit, etc. They probably would not waste any time bad mouthing you as it looks bad for them as well. If you were let go at 3Mo because "it just wasn't working out" then they probably never expected to keep you past the probationary period, and start giving you the benefits anyway. This is common and a cheap way around getting temporary labor. Apply for the positions you want and move on from them.

Good luck.

intheleast

They will only disclose your reported salary, position with the company, and time you worked for them.

Now, if the place you're applying knows a partner at the previous law firm personally, there's no guarantee that they wont have a phone conversation "off the record".

I had a friend who was fired for stealing and was arrested. When he got another job, they verified his prior employment and all they would report was his title, years of service, and income. They didn't even say he was arrested! Nobody wants to open themselves up to a possible lawsuit.

patrick

You thank law firms for the fact that most likely that wont happen. 30 years ago, that happened all the time. Then companies sdtarted getting sued because they were giving bad recommendations, and couldnt back it up. Now almost every company in the country (especially law firms) have rules that dictate they will only CONFIRM dates of employment and SALARY. Often only in writing and to a written request.
So I'd rest easy, it serves them no purpose to bad mouth you, and they run a risk of being sued.

hr4me

Legally, if you sign a release for background check you are releasing former employers from liability to give truthful information about your employment history with them. This means you can not sue them for giving that information out unless it is not the truth.

I would doubt with such a short history with them they will say much about you to a prospective employer.

ralph

If they do you have a lawsuit. Most employers now a days will only say you worked there from this date to this date with little comment about your work habits. Saying any more invites problems.

good girl

No, the previous employer is legally only allowed to say that you worked there from-to dates.

tony b

hi .... In the USA even if you dod somthing awful they are not allowed to bad mouth you in a reference...
Dont worry about it they will just put in the basics ... Like was punctual etc..... They wont put in unreliable and untrustworthy ... they can be sued if they do.

BTW what was the problem???? some one there not like you??

Sparkles

No they cannot do that. It is an invasion of privacy, and there is a law to protect you.

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