Bitter manager - providing false information about me while moving to a new company

SuprSi

I'm two weeks away from leaving my existing job and moving to a new company. So far I've managed to keep the location of my new place quiet, and it seems for good reason. I've found out that certain people have been calling me a dosser, wasting time, difficult, etc, and I've even heard that the use of drugs has been mentioned.

I'd like to find out if it's legal for my current company to call my prospective company to pass on any information, without my prospective company requesting it?

All of the allegations towards me are false, and coming from my manager who is extremely bitter that I'm leaving. The problem is that the company are also bitter that I'm leaving and are taking everything she's saying on board, so naturally enough I have to be concerned.

I'd just like to know where I stand in the event of information being passed from one company to the next without any request being made.

seamus

SuprSi wrote:

I'd just like to know where I stand in the event of information being passed from one company to the next without any request being made.

They can't really do it. The Data Protection Act would apply here, where any information kept on file about you, cannot be passed onto another person or company without your consent.

That of course only applies to data which is stored about you. If your manager on a whim decided to ring up the new company and tell them that he thought you were a time wasting, drug abusing alcoholic, then (assuming that the company doesn't have these things on file!) you could begin legal proceedings for slander.

If you suspect (or know) that someone in the office has been saying such things about you to other people (inside or outside of the office), then get yourself immediately to a solicitor.

SuprSi

Ok thanks Seamus, that's good to know. I'll take the next step with a solicitor just in case.

information

In employee law it is on the employer to prove the information.

If they say you are lazy, difficult, time waster, drugs.

They must have proof to back this information up, warnings, time sheets, drug tests, or else you can sue them.

impr0v

From memory there are some specific cases re defamation and this type of scenario, you may have an actionable tort. sorry, don't have time to look it up at the moment.

NUTLEY BOY

When you formally give notice to your current employer prior to leaving be sure to ask them for a written reference !

Communications about you of the nature that you describe would seem to be downright malicious. If of sufficient consequence to you some of this may need to be followed up formally/legally with you current employer as this type of "tag" can follow you around and prejudice other potential employers.

Victor

SuprSi wrote:

I've found out that certain people have been calling me a dosser, wasting time, difficult, etc, and I've even heard that the use of drugs has been mentioned.

Are you certain these are 110% not true? You don't necessarily want to create a scene denying something, only to leave a whiff of truth.