Comments on: You Can’t Quit, I’m Firing You!

By: Charlotte

Charlotte — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 15:27:28 +0000

Oh gosh! The same thing happened to me three days ago. I gave notice and then was fired the same day. My boss knew I had lined up a new job with the competition (he works in a building adjacent to their offices) and smirked at me: "Rumor travels quickly. This industry is a small world." The bogus reasons he made up are now threatening my security clearance. Nice, eh?

By: John

John — Thu, 07 May 2009 22:20:00 +0000

Yes, references can be flawed, some managers I worked for I wouldn't even ask them the time of day let alone for a job reference.

Applcants might be better to create profiles on say, Linkedin, and get recommendations. Everything is then out in the open and transparent.

By: Ask a Manager

Ask a Manager — Mon, 04 May 2009 20:55:00 +0000

Gene, it’s not illegal. Companies often ask for written permission as part of their job applications, but it’s not illegal not to do so.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 04 May 2009 02:04:00 +0000

why do you have to give him as a reference? Is there a reference police that would know who your last managers were?

By: Gene

Gene — Sun, 03 May 2009 07:32:00 +0000

Getting references without explicit written permission is illegal. I'd have a friend check my references and if the manager gave a bad one, consider suing him for defamation of character or business interference. A former manager has no right to interfere with your job search.

After all, maybe the manager is the one who should have been fired?

By: peter

peter — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:16:00 +0000

I think EHRL's advice is the way to go. I also agree with her points about the reference process, but most employers require them.

I would only add, don't give into the temptation to over explain the situation. Keep your explanation simple and to the point: I was terminated after resigning to work for a direct competitor. Only offer more if directly asked and avoid "bashing" the "bad boss".

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:23:00 +0000

People do strange things. I was once "ordered" to turn in a letter of resignation from a boss who was crazy, to put it mildly. I think the paragraph that Evil's paragraph is good, but I would not ask for a reference from that job.

I'm not going to give more info about my personal case, as it goes to trial soon. But folks do strange things. I'd say in that situation I resigned.

By: Just another HR lady

Just another HR lady — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:02:00 +0000

Just so I have this clear in my head, you resigned and then during your resignation period you were fired?

Or...did they just pay out your resignation notice period rather than having you work out the time? (Many employers do this when you are going to a competitor)

I'm wondering if there might just be a misunderstanding here on the authors part about being terminated?