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11-03-2009 at 4:32 PM
Mrs.A&J
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Mrs.A&J is not online. Last active: 11-22-2009, 1:04 PMNewbie

Burning bridges

I'm currently employed full time at a bank. This is my first full time job outside of college, so I don't have much in the way of references. I have my previous (part time during school) employer and a couple professors from college, etc., but not a lot of work history. After a month or two of really terrible work conditions (I have been there for almost a year now...things suddenly shifted toward the end of last quarter because sales numbers were tanking), I decided it was necessary to file a complaint against my employer with OSHA because they have instituted a policy that does not allow us water or restroom access except during breaks and lunches.

We went back and forth a couple times, I told them that it was not reasonable to deny us restroom access and that they were pushing the limits of OSHA, they never replied and conditions never improved, so I contacted OSHA first to inquire about those working conditions, indeed they are a violation, and the rep I spoke with advised me to file a complaint.

I have been actively seeking other employment in my chosen field (NOT banking), and I don't know what I should do regarding putting my current employer down. If I say that I prefer them not to be contacted, that seems like it would be a major red flag to a hiring manager, but I'm not sure what they can disclose to a prospective employer. I'm afraid they might try to retaliate by saying that my work performance is poor or that I'm insubordinate or something-- which I am not under normal working conditions. I was actually chosen for a promotion a few months back over an employee who'd been there much longer than I based on my performance and leadership, so I know that this whole OSHA thing aside, they should have great things to say about me.

WWYD?



The Big Day 
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11-03-2009 at 5:32 PM
traveling ...
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traveling turtle is not online. Last active: 11-22-2009, 1:23 PMNewbie

There's usually two types of contacting former employers when you apply for a new job. There's the contact information/supervisor information from all your jobs and the professional reference.

I wouldn't put them as a professional reference. Your professional references should be saying good things, and you don't want to worry they won't.

If there's something about contacting former employers, you can check no because you are still working there and you don't want them to know you are looking for a different job. I don't think, at least at my old job, they can ask those types of contacts anything more than verifying what you put on your resume/application. 

 
 
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11-03-2009 at 5:53 PM
vanillacou...
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vanillacourage is not online. Last active: 11-20-2009, 3:42 PMGold
You can put "references available upon request" for personal references, and put in a note on your resume that you request your current company not be contacted unless you are a final candidate for the position.  This happens all the time and should not raise any red flags.  If you have one or more interviews and feel you are getting close enough to an offer for them to call your company, explain the situation succinctly (and be sure to include that you were recently promoted) as a heads-up to whomever would make that call.

Try to find someone at your current job who knows the situation but you trust to rise above it to be able to give you a personal reference- I say this because if I'm thinking of hiring someone but they don't have a single personal reference from their current job (esp if it's their first "real" job out of college) it looks bad.

What's up, goat? So you eat hay, huh? Say hi to your mother for me.

 
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11-03-2009 at 6:30 PM
gt
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gt is not online. Last active: 11-20-2009, 11:45 PMNewbie

Ditto listing your current employer but only to be contacted if you are a final candidate for the job.

And all any HR department can say is Mrs. A&J worked here from this date to that date. Her job title was XYZ and she is/is not eligible for re-hire.  Filing an OSHA complaint does not make you ineligible for rehire so don;t worry about that.

 
 
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11-04-2009 at 9:10 AM
Mrs.A&J
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Mrs.A&J is not online. Last active: 11-22-2009, 1:04 PMNewbie
Thank you everyone for the input. Out of nowhere yesterday I got a call from someone I had interviewed with several months ago, he asked me to come in and I walked out with a job! I did put my employer down on the background check form (he already had my resume and references from back when I first applied), but actually OSHA hasn't even acted on my complaint yet so they don't even know about it yet. I'm not worried about it.


The Big Day 
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11-04-2009 at 9:57 PM
Geoffreyth...
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GeoffreytheGiraffe is not online. Last active: 11-22-2009, 10:32 AMBronze
gt:

Ditto listing your current employer but only to be contacted if you are a final candidate for the job.

And all any HR department can say is Mrs. A&J worked here from this date to that date. Her job title was XYZ and she is/is not eligible for re-hire.  Filing an OSHA complaint does not make you ineligible for rehire so don;t worry about that.

 

 

This is a HUGE misconception; HR can and sometimes does say anything they darn well please.  Many companies have internal policies that prevent anything but employment confirmation, but there is no law against dishing the dirt on a past employee.

Now companies must be truthful, otherwise they can and will be sued.   The fear of litigation is the reasons that those policies exist, but as a recruiter I can tell you that most HR folks will sing like canaries if you sweet talk them a little.

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11-04-2009 at 11:05 PM
AlisaSpenc...
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AlisaSpencer122008 is not online. Last active: 11-15-2009, 1:09 AMNewbie
GeoffreytheGiraffe:
gt:

Ditto listing your current employer but only to be contacted if you are a final candidate for the job.

And all any HR department can say is Mrs. A&J worked here from this date to that date. Her job title was XYZ and she is/is not eligible for re-hire.  Filing an OSHA complaint does not make you ineligible for rehire so don;t worry about that.

 

 

This is a HUGE misconception; HR can and sometimes does say anything they darn well please.  Many companies have internal policies that prevent anything but employment confirmation, but there is no law against dishing the dirt on a past employee.

Now companies must be truthful, otherwise they can and will be sued.   The fear of litigation is the reasons that those policies exist, but as a recruiter I can tell you that most HR folks will sing like canaries if you sweet talk them a little.

Congrats on your new job!  I just wanted to add to GeoffreytheGiraffe's point above for anyone else reading. 

My friend was having difficulty during their job search and figured it was the economy.  However, when they followed up with one of their applications, someone from HR leaked that they received negative information from a former employer, but of course wouldn't tell who.  There wasn't much this person could do as they weren't sure which employer was doing this and could only speculate. Policy or not, you may never know what HR departments are saying about you, and even if you could do something or know who is involved, the damage with the potential employer is already done.


 
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