I am retired, and with all the modern layoffs, I have been questioned by former colleagues if they can use me as a reference. Even though I was nevertheless operating, we had been advised not to reply to any of these calls or e-mails, but to forward to human methods. Are there any suggestions that I should know ahead of I reply?

When it arrives to references, there is typically a variance among what an employer suggests about a prior staff and what a previous staff claims. In most states, companies are shielded from liability for relaying genuine facts that is with out malice to a previous employee’s possible employer. If an employer would make wrong statements or acts with reckless disregard, the employee might have a situation. Numerous employers have guidelines that they only affirm the title and dates of work. What comes about in authentic daily life is that companies give off-the-document suggestions for great workforce, and for fewer favorable workers, they only present the dates of service and titles. There’s a wink and a nod, and everyone understands. As a previous colleague, I really don’t see any threat at all in supplying a reference, specially because you are totally free to decide and opt for who you will present references for (presumably those people about whom you have constructive things to say). And if another person you are not comfy vouching for asks for a reference, you can politely say that you are not in a place to aid.

My grandson just bought a new job and gave his outdated corporation two weeks’ notice. They explained to him to go instantly, and didn’t pay back him for all those two months. Can a company do this?

Whilst it is very good form to give your employer detect, you don’t have to, and they really don’t have to settle for your leaving date, unless they have a plan stating in any other case. There are only a handful of predicaments I can assume of wherever a enterprise may possibly want anyone out that day and not honor the see, most notably if the employee is leaving to go operate for a competitor. Convey to your grandson to carry on executing the appropriate issue and to not permit this melt away a bridge with his now-previous employer. You under no circumstances know who you could fulfill or operate with in the long run.

Gregory Giangrande has around 25 a long time of expertise as a main human means govt. E-mail your queries to [email protected]. Comply with Greg on Twitter: @greggiangrande and at GoToGreg.com, committed to serving to New Yorkers get back again to work.