Used as a job reference.

If you are used as a job reference and the calling facility wants to speak to you, what can you legally say?
The nurse that used my name (told me after the fact) as she was looking for a prn position elsewhere, did not even get off probation before being let go. She was totally unsafe, couldn't even show up on time and had a personality of a moldy pancake.
I believe that if you are a professional reference (the person used to work for you) it depends on your state laws. Usually you are allowed to day when they worked there and what position they held. Depending on your state, you may be able to give information about the person's work characteristics.If you atte a personal reference, you may speak honestly about the person in any way that seems important, but you souls only share information that pertains to employment habits or that a future employer should know.

Quote from tokmom... had a personality of a moldy pancake.

Have at it. We must know the same personThe reference would be work related. I was her charge nurse.

Yikes tokmom, that nurse sounds like a real winner. I do not know what you can legally say as a professional reference but I would think as a personal reference you could legally speak to their personal habits such as punctuality, easy to work with, catches on quick etc.I would be quite upset if I were you because i feel like it is very rude to use someone as a reference and not ask their permission beforehand. If you get a call I think I would say I am sorry but this person did not ask my permission to use me as a reference and I do not feel comfortable speaking about them. btw: very descriptive assessment of said nurse, made me laugh out loud, i am going to use the "personality of a moldy pancake" line!

Arghhh! Diane-RN beat me to it! lol

I had another nurse use me as a personal reference one time. She didn't even ask me about it because I would have told her no. I was honest w/ the person on the phone. This nurse wasn't a team player (always yelling at the CNA's and never offering to help out the other nurses), her narc counts were usually off, and she was NEVER on time. I also told them that I hoped I never worked w/ her again. PEOPLE! Don't use someone as a personal reference w/o talking to that person first.

Speak the truth. Ask her not to volunteer you as a reference. You may get stuck because you were her supervisor, but that can not be helped.

I can't believe someone would use anyone for a reference without asking first:smackingfEach time I have an interview, I let my references know they "might" be called for a reference and tell them what job I'm applying to and what company. I just shoot them an FYI email and BEFORE I ever use someone as a reference the first time I call and ask their permission.I would just tell the person I'm not comfortable giving you a reference.

Quote from tokmomIf you are used as a job reference and the calling facility wants to speak to you, what can you legally say?The nurse that used my name (told me after the fact) as she was looking for a prn position elsewhere, did not even get off probation before being let go. She was totally unsafe, couldn't even show up on time and had a personality of a moldy pancake.

"but to continue letting them use you when you plan to continue disparaging them is just disgusting and cruel."That is just it WD, tokmom never let her. This person took it upon themselves to use her without permission and as Hospice-RN said, you should NEVER use someone as a reference without discussing it with them first.Giving a reference is serious business and should not be taken lightly. You are putting your name out there to attest to someone else's ability. If you know that person to be unsafe or a poor employee and you recommend him/her to another person, I just don't feel that is very ethical. I believe you should be truthful, tell the person asking that your permission was never asked and that you do not feel comfortable speaking about them. The onus is on the job-seeker to develop professional references that will be complimentary and to make sure those people know they will be used as references. The person who would just put down anyone's name without asking or even making sure that person thinks highly of them is really taking a chance that the person they chose will be honest when asked.

When I used to be a boss (in another field altogether), I was used as a reference all the time. The only thing I was allowed to say was whether or not the candidate was eligible for rehire or not. Laws vary from state to state and employer too but if I were the one called and I could not give an honest good reference, I would refer the caller to the HR person and leave it alone. If I had the opportunity to give a very favorable reference, I still stuck to the facts but usually focused on one or two really positive characteristics to brag on him/her about.

Yes I do believe that giving a reference is serious because you are speaking to another persons abilities and it can impact their life as well as their potential employer. I always checked the references of the people I hired and am surprised to hear that is not the norm. Why ask for them if you are not going to check? Perhaps the person using tokmom as a reference is counting on them not to.