manager being difficult about getting time off for interview

pwd

Have an interview on friday at 4pm
Need to confirm it asap.
Manager is being difficult about confirming time off for it. "I'll talk to you later"
Confirm it anyway?

pwd

http://money.guardian.co.uk/workweekly/story/0,,1645616,00.html

seamus

Hah! That's a great little article.

I'd confirm it anyway. Does your manager know it's for an interview or have you just asked for time off?

pwd

He knows it's for an interview. Heard me on the phone.
That's why he's being difficult

seamus

Maybe he wants to talk to his superior first and then discuss it with you - maybe give you a payrise or something?

Or has it gone far past that point?

January

He's probably going to suss out why you're going for another interview. He'll ask you are you unhappy in the workplace, is it more money? I'd say confirm it.

pwd

no he knows why i'd be looking for another job. he can't do his job and presents my work as his. he was fairly aggressive to me in a "meeting" earlier. Said he told hr I'd been looking for another job on company time - which is probably a lie. I sent in 3 cvs this morning and got 3 callbacks within an hour. He took it personally that I was looking for another job. Made a threat of a bad reference. He gave the time off though. Now my work for the forseeable future here is trying to get him to understand the systems I've developed. Considering I couldn't get him to understand the difference between declaring a variable and giving it a value I don't expect this to be easy.
The guy didn't come in over a third of the time over several months while I was here. He came in drunk a lot then too. He has a conniption if anyone talks to me about projects directly rather than goign through him. I can't wait to et out of this place.

0utshined

pwd wrote:

He came in drunk a lot then too.

Woah. Drunk or hungover? Coming in drunk would be sackable i would have thought?

Glad the issue at hand has resolved itself anyway, best of luck in the interview.

feylya

As far as I know, it's illegal to give a bad reference. The worst reference they can give is "Xxx worked here from 06 til 07" or give none at all.

Cake Fiend

feylya wrote:

As far as I know, it's illegal to give a bad reference. The worst reference they can give is "Xxx worked here from 06 til 07" or give none at all.

A common misconception. To the best of my knowledge, the only restriction on a reference (good or bad) is that it should be true and provable. I.e. if an employee constantly came in late or failed to meet deadlines, and there is a record of this, then this can be mentioned (AFAIK).

nesf

Cake Fiend wrote:

A common misconception. To the best of my knowledge, the only restriction on a reference (good or bad) is that it should be true and provable. I.e. if an employee constantly came in late or failed to meet deadlines, and there is a record of this, then this can be mentioned (AFAIK).

That is true but most places won't risk it and leave themselves open to a legal case. Then, with references, silence speaks volumes.

seamus

Cake Fiend wrote:

A common misconception. To the best of my knowledge, the only restriction on a reference (good or bad) is that it should be true and provable. I.e. if an employee constantly came in late or failed to meet deadlines, and there is a record of this, then this can be mentioned (AFAIK).

In fact, there's no "restriction" per se. They can say whatever they hell they like. However, the outgoing employee may have legal recourse on defamation grounds if the employer says something which is untrue or otherwise unprovable.

There's nothing to actually stop an employer from giving the bad reference - I'm sure plenty of people wouldn't bother taking a former employer to court.

eth0_

pwd wrote:

no he knows why i'd be looking for another job. he can't do his job and presents my work as his. he was fairly aggressive to me in a "meeting" earlier. Said he told hr I'd been looking for another job on company time - which is probably a lie. I sent in 3 cvs this morning and got 3 callbacks within an hour. He took it personally that I was looking for another job. Made a threat of a bad reference. He gave the time off though. Now my work for the forseeable future here is trying to get him to understand the systems I've developed. Considering I couldn't get him to understand the difference between declaring a variable and giving it a value I don't expect this to be easy.
The guy didn't come in over a third of the time over several months while I was here. He came in drunk a lot then too. He has a conniption if anyone talks to me about projects directly rather than goign through him. I can't wait to et out of this place.

Would this guys name start with an R?

pwd

eth0_ wrote:

Would this guys name start with an R?

no

dade

pwd wrote:

Now my work for the forseeable future here is trying to get him to understand the systems I've developed. Considering I couldn't get him to understand the difference between declaring a variable and giving it a value I don't expect this to be easy. .

is it in your job description to train him or other employees? if he's giving you a hard time then play by the rules. don't deviate in any way. if it's not in your job description then you have every right to refuse to do it. if he is your super then he should have the basic skills of his team should he not? show him up for what he is.

personally I'd walk in the door from this point out at 8.59 and start my PC at 900 take my lunch bang on 1 and not return til 2 etc. or what ever your times are. don't give him an excuse.

pwd wrote:

The guy didn't come in over a third of the time over several months while I was here. He came in drunk a lot then too. He has a conniption if anyone talks to me about projects directly rather than goign through him. I can't wait to et out of this place.

If he comes in drunk again report him to HR on Health and safety grounds, refuse to work with him as he could be a danger to you and your co workers.

in relation to the reference, my understanding is that an employee can not give a bad one. yes they can tell the truth about punctuation etc but again as was said only if provable. I think as was said the worst they can say is "X worked for us between Y and Z in the role of A" and if asked questions they can refuse to answer them. course that just makes you look bad then but it isn't a bad reference per se. have a word in HRs ear and tell them you have a feeling he's gonna bad mouth you in a reference so you're going to have someone call and if you get a bad/false reference you will see them in court. this should ensure they play ball and give you a reference you deserve. I've had to do it before and made a point of having someone call about 6 months later.

rebel.ranter

Just in relation to references, most industries have a small group of people that know each other, or are a connection of a connection. Generally a written reference is followed up with a phone call.
During these phone calls a lot is said in confidence. A good people manager will be fair & give honest answers.
I would suggest that you appeal to you boss' better nature, by going all millitant it will only make life miserable for you too.

the_syco

When getting a reference, I go to someome who I know knows how well I work. They'll be my superior, but not always my boss.