Quitting

[fire_of_avalon]

I'm starting to wonder, if you just stop showing up instead of putting in a two-weeks you're kind of ruining your reputation? I mean, sure there are plenty of jobs out there that are too lazy to call your old bosses but I was working at this place where our manager received plenty of calls where she got asked about past employees and she would straight up say nope, he was lazy, don't even bother hiring him. I mean, that guy was lazy but your manager could be all, well, he got fired because he stopped showing up. Then you probably wouldn't be able to get that job. Where I work, in a retirement home, my interviewer had to call all 3 of my references and my managers at all 3 places that I worked. I know this because I had to give her a new reference because one of mine wasn't answering their phone.

In Missouri, all they are allowed to say is, "Yes, I would hire him again" or "No, I would not hire him again." They legally cannot say anything else.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that is most places. But do people actually know that sort of rule? My manager had no problem speaking her mind about it over the phone. I hardly doubt her honesty would've landed her in trouble somehow. Who knows though. It's a stupid rule though, I wanna know what kind of diptit I'm hiring.

Mostly it depends on where you live and what type of company you work for. As a general rule most, if not all, states have laws protecting people from malicious negative feedback - feedback presented in such an extreme way that would prevent a potential employer from hiring you, all candidates being equally suitable or less suitable for the position.

But they can discuss facts that would present you in a negative light. If you didn't work your full notice they can say "Megan didn't work her full notice." They can't say "Megan was a blight on this company and we hope she is dead. For your sake you should stab her in the face."

Now that being said, defamation is a very fine line and straying from the facts even a little can get people in trouble. That's one reason most companies have policies in place that indicate management should not provide any information on previous employees, and they should refer inquiries to HR departments. But no, if you were late most of the time it is perfectly legal for an employee to say "Megan was late most of the time."

EDIT: Almost forgot to add - your old manager is a walking time bomb of getting into trouble. Saying things like "John was lazy" are character judgements, they're based on subjective perception and not recordable fact.

Here's a fun fact for everyone to keep under your hat. In almost all states you have a right to a copy of anything you sign. This means codes of conduct, disciplinary records, performance reviews, etc. I'm actually in the process of getting my previous performance reviews from my last job.