Do employers give a lot of weightage to the previous employer's feedback? If so, how rational is the practice, especially considering that there are egoistic megalomaniac people who misuse it unethically.
Mine is a mid-sized Indian IT MNC, and I am a technical person. My department is mostly into body shopping, and they sent me to a client place. The project was soon found not to match my profile, and I informed the management that there is no value addition. On top of that, the client manager started getting tighter by asking to work on holidays unexpectedly, etc. Friction mounted, and we were asked for an explanation on why the 'unreasonable cooperation' is not there. It was a cordial discussion, and we (I and my colleague) explained it properly - also willingness to resign with a 3-month notice period.
After 2 days, they issued a show-cause notice stating that 'you were found unprofessional at the client location, attitude issues, etc.'. It was unexpected and unproportionate. We said we are willing to resign and signed the document with a comment - 'acknowledge receipt of doc, pending discussion on the same'. Having written like this provoked the HR Head, and she asked (2 days later) what is the problem signing it without such a comment? I explained that these are abstract terms and need to be substantiated how I am unprofessional. This made her further angry. She started speaking arrogantly and started abusing me. At this point, I said, "I can't continue the discussion in such a way; I am willing to resign with a notice period." Immediately she told me that I will be terminated. My Manager and 2 HR Executives were present all the while. They did the same thing with my colleague too.
After keeping me waiting for 2 months, they finally have given an experience letter.
I have been searching for another job meanwhile and lost two opportunities for not having the relieving/exp letter at that time. I have explained the situation to a prospective employer and I cleared all their rounds and given an offer letter. I am just curious to know how the prospective employer will deal with it if the firm responds revengefully and makes fabricated bad remarks about me during background checks. I very well expect it that the management and HR Head personally are revengeful (for me trying to be assertive and trying to preserve one's integrity and dignity and walked out of the room). I feel natural justice is being denied in my case, and it's too unethical.
So the main question is: Do employers give a lot of weightage to the previous employer's feedback? If so, how rational is the practice, especially considering that there are power-hungry people who misuse it unethically.
Some of the previous managers advised me to approach it legally, but I am not interested being inexperienced and because of a personal distaste to get into such complex matters.
Note: (i) I am confident and have exceptional technology skills which I am further updating during this crisis. Also, this company has been in the headlines for anti-employee practices in July in a leading newspaper. (ii) I have 12 years of experience and 3 years in this problem company. All previous records are clean. (iii) 46 days leave balance (in 3 years) are calculated for encashment at a basic salary as per final settlement, which is nominal.
From India, Bengaluru
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3Mine is a mid-sized Indian IT MNC, and I am a technical person. My department is mostly into body shopping, and they sent me to a client place. The project was soon found not to match my profile, and I informed the management that there is no value addition. On top of that, the client manager started getting tighter by asking to work on holidays unexpectedly, etc. Friction mounted, and we were asked for an explanation on why the 'unreasonable cooperation' is not there. It was a cordial discussion, and we (I and my colleague) explained it properly - also willingness to resign with a 3-month notice period.
After 2 days, they issued a show-cause notice stating that 'you were found unprofessional at the client location, attitude issues, etc.'. It was unexpected and unproportionate. We said we are willing to resign and signed the document with a comment - 'acknowledge receipt of doc, pending discussion on the same'. Having written like this provoked the HR Head, and she asked (2 days later) what is the problem signing it without such a comment? I explained that these are abstract terms and need to be substantiated how I am unprofessional. This made her further angry. She started speaking arrogantly and started abusing me. At this point, I said, "I can't continue the discussion in such a way; I am willing to resign with a notice period." Immediately she told me that I will be terminated. My Manager and 2 HR Executives were present all the while. They did the same thing with my colleague too.
After keeping me waiting for 2 months, they finally have given an experience letter.
I have been searching for another job meanwhile and lost two opportunities for not having the relieving/exp letter at that time. I have explained the situation to a prospective employer and I cleared all their rounds and given an offer letter. I am just curious to know how the prospective employer will deal with it if the firm responds revengefully and makes fabricated bad remarks about me during background checks. I very well expect it that the management and HR Head personally are revengeful (for me trying to be assertive and trying to preserve one's integrity and dignity and walked out of the room). I feel natural justice is being denied in my case, and it's too unethical.
So the main question is: Do employers give a lot of weightage to the previous employer's feedback? If so, how rational is the practice, especially considering that there are power-hungry people who misuse it unethically.
Some of the previous managers advised me to approach it legally, but I am not interested being inexperienced and because of a personal distaste to get into such complex matters.
Note: (i) I am confident and have exceptional technology skills which I am further updating during this crisis. Also, this company has been in the headlines for anti-employee practices in July in a leading newspaper. (ii) I have 12 years of experience and 3 years in this problem company. All previous records are clean. (iii) 46 days leave balance (in 3 years) are calculated for encashment at a basic salary as per final settlement, which is nominal.
From India, Bengaluru
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Also want to add that the way non-cooperative and arrogant the HR and management are, I am further concerned about entering their premises for any future settlement. This could give them the opportunity to fabricate lies and make false allegations of theft or manhandling. Considering the inferior ethical standards they possess, I should expect this as well. The company's other divisions are in the food and tobacco business, and the management is preoccupied with the practices there - trade unions and labor laws - so it does not really function as an IT company in that respect.
From India, Bengaluru
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From India, Bengaluru
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Dear friend,
Since existence itself is comprised of dualities like virtue and vice, good and evil, sanctity and sin, etc., it is called "Misra Prapanch". The workplace is a small world within the larger world manifesting all the same dualities. So, if we are very much worried about some bitter things happening in our life, particularly work-life, without our own contribution or beyond our control, we cannot move on. Your note to the first post vividly exhibits your self-confidence in your employability, while the successive post indicates your natural fear about negative feedback from a particular ex-employer.
Particularly, regarding body shopping in the IT field, the employee's position is a bit more precarious as they have to serve two masters. In the event of any friction like the one you mentioned, it is quite natural that your immediate employer would react in such a manner out of the fear of losing clientele. If the HR person were a bit more shrewd or if the situation were handled by any line manager, the proper response would have been placing a fresh team instead of reprimanding you without hearing your side. However, all employers are aware that in such situations employees leave not organizations, but only managers.
When your departure from the previous job is peaceful and formal, and your selection for the new job is based on all the positive merits, no employer would give importance to informal words of mouth uttered by a person belonging to such a company of disrepute well known in the Corporate World.
From India, Salem
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Since existence itself is comprised of dualities like virtue and vice, good and evil, sanctity and sin, etc., it is called "Misra Prapanch". The workplace is a small world within the larger world manifesting all the same dualities. So, if we are very much worried about some bitter things happening in our life, particularly work-life, without our own contribution or beyond our control, we cannot move on. Your note to the first post vividly exhibits your self-confidence in your employability, while the successive post indicates your natural fear about negative feedback from a particular ex-employer.
Particularly, regarding body shopping in the IT field, the employee's position is a bit more precarious as they have to serve two masters. In the event of any friction like the one you mentioned, it is quite natural that your immediate employer would react in such a manner out of the fear of losing clientele. If the HR person were a bit more shrewd or if the situation were handled by any line manager, the proper response would have been placing a fresh team instead of reprimanding you without hearing your side. However, all employers are aware that in such situations employees leave not organizations, but only managers.
When your departure from the previous job is peaceful and formal, and your selection for the new job is based on all the positive merits, no employer would give importance to informal words of mouth uttered by a person belonging to such a company of disrepute well known in the Corporate World.
From India, Salem
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(Fact Check Failed/Partial)-The user's reply contains philosophical reflections but lacks concrete HR or legal insights. Employers do consider previous employer feedback, but should do so ethically and factually. It is essential for prospective employers to verify such feedback accurately.
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You can go forward legally against your ex-employer only if you can prove that such act was intentionally done by your ex-employer to jeopardize your future employability.
From India, Kolkata
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From India, Kolkata
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(Fact Check Failed/Partial)-The user reply is partially correct. Legal action can be pursued if there's evidence of malicious intent to harm future employability.
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@UMAKANTHAN53 & RITESHMAITY,
Thank you for being kind enough to reply, Dear Sir. Yes, I am naturally tense about the harm these people can inflict on future employability. Currently, 10+ employers are interested in my profile, and I have been offered a job (pending background verification) after interviews. Additionally, there are 5+ interviews ongoing at different rounds. I am confident in securing another job based on merit. My concern lies in the industry practice of giving excessive weight to previous employer feedback (the extent of which is uncertain to me). I am aware that this forum comprises many experienced HR professionals and I seek expert opinions. In fact, I am more curious than scared!
I understand that if a background checking agency marks me negatively, it could jeopardize my future employment prospects in this industry. What a practice!
My current situation is distressing, especially with a family to support. The mental anguish is significant and could potentially drive someone to despair as they lose what they hold dear. However, I remain exceptionally positive! I have resolved not to yield to this injustice and to live my life with integrity intact. I refuse to compromise on my values, even in the face of adversity. I am prepared to take on any job, even as a chauffeur or laborer, if my career is jeopardized. I possess the courage and will not bow down to such high-handedness.
My advice to all is, "Do not engage with organizations that lack values in employment. They can ruin your career by masquerading as legitimate players in the industry, abusing their 'powers.'"
About the legal aspect, I am currently on a tight budget with limited funds for the next 3 months' expenses. Affording legal costs is challenging for me, and I lack experience in handling legal matters. Moreover, I worry that if I am fortunate enough to secure a job, legal proceedings could pose issues for my future employer, with the need for frequent leaves to attend court procedures.
Ideally, no one should have to endure such situations, as they are far from ideal. Unfortunately, some individuals find themselves in such predicaments due to the presence of unscrupulous actors in the industry. It resembles an underworld where they pose as legitimate and benevolent entities.
From India, Bengaluru
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Thank you for being kind enough to reply, Dear Sir. Yes, I am naturally tense about the harm these people can inflict on future employability. Currently, 10+ employers are interested in my profile, and I have been offered a job (pending background verification) after interviews. Additionally, there are 5+ interviews ongoing at different rounds. I am confident in securing another job based on merit. My concern lies in the industry practice of giving excessive weight to previous employer feedback (the extent of which is uncertain to me). I am aware that this forum comprises many experienced HR professionals and I seek expert opinions. In fact, I am more curious than scared!
I understand that if a background checking agency marks me negatively, it could jeopardize my future employment prospects in this industry. What a practice!
My current situation is distressing, especially with a family to support. The mental anguish is significant and could potentially drive someone to despair as they lose what they hold dear. However, I remain exceptionally positive! I have resolved not to yield to this injustice and to live my life with integrity intact. I refuse to compromise on my values, even in the face of adversity. I am prepared to take on any job, even as a chauffeur or laborer, if my career is jeopardized. I possess the courage and will not bow down to such high-handedness.
My advice to all is, "Do not engage with organizations that lack values in employment. They can ruin your career by masquerading as legitimate players in the industry, abusing their 'powers.'"
About the legal aspect, I am currently on a tight budget with limited funds for the next 3 months' expenses. Affording legal costs is challenging for me, and I lack experience in handling legal matters. Moreover, I worry that if I am fortunate enough to secure a job, legal proceedings could pose issues for my future employer, with the need for frequent leaves to attend court procedures.
Ideally, no one should have to endure such situations, as they are far from ideal. Unfortunately, some individuals find themselves in such predicaments due to the presence of unscrupulous actors in the industry. It resembles an underworld where they pose as legitimate and benevolent entities.
From India, Bengaluru
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(Fact Checked)-Employers do consider previous employer feedback, but it should be fair and substantiated. Legal action is an option if needed, but it's crucial to approach it wisely. Maintaining integrity is commendable. Ensure to seek legal advice if necessary. (1 Acknowledge point)
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@UMAKANTHAN53, Thank you very much sir for your opinion that gives me hope. I am just waiting for another couple of weeks to see the outcome.
From India, Bengaluru
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From India, Bengaluru
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(Fact Check Failed/Partial)-The user reply does not address the main concerns raised in the original post regarding the weightage of previous employer's feedback and potential unethical practices. It focuses more on waiting for the outcome than providing relevant insights or advice.
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(Fact Checked)-The concerns about potential retaliation and unethical behavior by the HR and management are valid. Previous employer feedback can impact future opportunities. It's advisable to be cautious and prepared for any challenges during background checks. (1 Acknowledge point)