I was fired from previous job

I was fired from my previous job. I had an interview last week, but I did not divulge the fact that I had been fired. I really need this job. I am wondering if I should have been up front when they asked why I am not working there anymore. I didn't lie...I simply stated that I had some family situations that needed my full attention...which is the truth. Now I am wondering how much HR can say about me? Can they say I was fired? I was a very good employee, but a family member lied about me, and they took her word over mine. Also, the administrator was on a bit of a firing frenzy which bit him in the butt, and he ended up getting fired himself.

I live in Californa, and have been told that previous employers are not allowed to say negative things...just start date and end date. Is that true? Any information would be greatly appreciated. Sincerely, nursepenelope
The correct answer is that HR will only tell dates of employment and sometimes if you are eligible for re-hire. They should not say anything subjective about the type of employee you were or why you were fired.The reality is...nursing tends to be a small world. I have other management friends all over town and in all honesty we tend to have each others back and will tell things off the record. I have also seen other line staff snitch another person out "Hey Boss, so and so worked over at XYZ and they fired her for 123".

I'm not in California, but in my State (as far as I know) employers are only able to give your dates of employment, and not the reason why you left their employ.However, I'd be very careful here, as I have yet to see an application that doesn't say (usually somewhere near the bottom by your signature) that you are giving all the information, to the best of your knowledge, it is truthful, etc etc. If you are caught having NOT divulged something that you know was pertinent, there would be your problem, not in your former employer saying something out of turn.

and as an addendum, Nascar nurse is right: we tend to know things and hear things that have nothing to do with what HR says. It usually is better to be honest up front, present a professional and strong front, than to try to explain later why you were dishonest.

Unfortunately, the urban legend persists that HR cannot say anything other than dates of employment What Can Former Employers Legally Say About Me? | Monster

I interviewed for a job while suspended (with pay) from another job. Since I was still technically employed, I tried to hide the suspensiion. The new facility offered me a job. Two days later, they found out abut the suspension, and withdrew the offer.

if we're honest about it, very few of us haven't been fired from a job at some point in our lives. unless you werefired for stealing, or another ethics issue, what matters more is the spin you put on being let go and not the actualfact that you were fired.you should never lie on a job application because it will come back to haunt you eventually. there are two types oflies -- lies of commission and lies of omission. omitting a job where you were fired would be a lie of omission. i havenever filled out a job application that did not include a signature somewhere attesting to the fact that i told the truthand misrepresented nothing.where it says "were you ever fired or let go from any job and why?" simply put something like "will discuss duringinterview." another useful phrase is "different philosophies" as is "differing management styles." without openlybad mouthing your old boss or workplace, you've just politely said they were impossible to work for.

Quote from sharpeimomif we're honest about it, very few of us haven't been fired from a job at some point in our lives.

Quote from roser13Unfortunately, the urban legend persists that HR cannot say anything other than dates of employment What Can Former Employers Legally Say About Me? | Monster

As has been posted on this site many times, the employer is allowed to say anything about a former employee's job performance that is true. If the employer says it, then it is true.

Quote from ANsWerNot an urban legend. I've worked for two employers that would NOT say anything other than dates of employment....I seem to think it had to do more with liability, not WANTING to say anything more, rather than not being allowed to.The more they say, the more they'd have to defend if they got it at all wrong.

i was only fired once and thinking about it 35 years later, makes me furious, frustrated, and unhappy as it did back then.i was a grad student and i had a job managing three group homes for developmentally disabled children. each unit had threekids in it.home a had three children: a girl in her mid-teens, a boy age 9 who also had an unusual anomaly, and a 6 year old whosehips had been replaced. the youngest two weren't potty trained yet and that became one of my projects. their estimatedi.q.s were 20 and below.home b had three teenage boys who attended school and had part-time jobs too. their i.q.s were in the 60's and two kidsalso had behavioral issues.home c was home to three older (or so i thought then) woman with i.q.s in the 70 range and they each had diagnosedmh issues too. one of my (many) duties was to grocery shop for each unit weekly with a $100 per unit budget, that was expected to pay for everything -- including soap, detergent, paper products, food, ice for the sidewalk in snowy weather. you name it.we also received some commodities foods. i also managed the clients' money from their ssi checks, or helped the ones who were able to do it themselves. one issue was that one client's family had his check sent to the family's address and thenjust kept it. the kids' pampers were supposed to be paid for from their monthly checks, but most months, one boy's moneypaid for all the diapers. his mom was what my elderly great aunt used to refer to as a "strumpet" and when she'd had a good night, she'd drop off anywhere from $500 to $1000 to be "extras money for all three kids." that was diaper andfield trip money.the daily employees were mostly college kids and young moms. one day i came in early after a meeting ended soonerthan expected, and the downstairs was empty and dark, which was very unusual. i called the houseparent's name and gotno answer. i went upstairs where i heard water running. in the bathroom, the shower was running and i discovered thehouseparent (a 19 year old male) and the teenage female client having sex. i immediately called my supervisor. she orderedme to ignore it. i had fished the client out before i called and had taken her with me down the hall.the houseparent's parents were very heavy university contributors and i should have realized he'd be spared.i went home and was so upset that i called my mom. she was 1000 miles away but equally outraged. she calledsome friends in the state capitol and let's just say that heads rolled. i wasn't fired right then, but they scrutinizedeverything until they got me on a technicality. i ran a quick errand without calling in first (not usually necessary.)would i report it again? you'd better believe it!

Quote from RNsRWeNot an urban legend. I've worked for two employers that WOULD NOT say anything other than dates of employment....I seem to think it had to do more with liability, not WANTING to say anything more, rather than not being allowed to. The more they say, the more they'd have to defend if they got it at all wrong.