Are references a thing of the past ?

Just curious really, what got me thinking was a previous employee of mine.

People always say good staff in Ag are really hard to find. But rarely do people seem to request references from previous employers when they are looking to take someone on. Why is this?

I sacked a lad about 2 years ago. Mainly for being a lying, thieving, woman beating, young girl grooming muppet who wasn’t very good at his job.

Interestingly he left me, went somewhere else, I never got asked for a reference and they found him to be the same.

He was booted out there.... and is now shepherd at a very prestigious estate..... for the queen.

No references asked by them of either previous employers ......

Just find it a bit strange.
 

Estate fencing.

Member
Livestock Farmer
Just curious really, what got me thinking was a previous employee of mine.

People always say good staff in Ag are really hard to find. But rarely do people seem to request references from previous employers when they are looking to take someone on. Why is this?

I sacked a lad about 2 years ago. Mainly for being a lying, thieving, woman beating, young girl grooming muppet who wasn’t very good at his job.

Interestingly he left me, went somewhere else, I never got asked for a reference and they found him to be the same.

He was booted out there.... and is now shepherd at a very prestigious estate..... for the queen.

No references asked by them of either previous employers ......

Just find it a bit strange.
That sounds like a shepherd I know.
 

egbert

Member
Livestock Farmer
Just curious really, what got me thinking was a previous employee of mine.

People always say good staff in Ag are really hard to find. But rarely do people seem to request references from previous employers when they are looking to take someone on. Why is this?

I sacked a lad about 2 years ago. Mainly for being a lying, thieving, woman beating, young girl grooming muppet who wasn’t very good at his job.

Interestingly he left me, went somewhere else, I never got asked for a reference and they found him to be the same.

He was booted out there.... and is now shepherd at a very prestigious estate..... for the queen.

No references asked by them of either previous employers ......

Just find it a bit strange.
I occasionally get asked for refs for former staff. Try to be fair if they're not quite up to speed.

Seldom need em with newbies coming in....usually known commodities


'I sacked a lad about 2 years ago. Mainly for being a lying, thieving, woman beating, young girl grooming muppet who wasn’t very good at his job'.....and you let him go?
 
I occasionally get asked for refs for former staff. Try to be fair if they're not quite up to speed.

Seldom need em with newbies coming in....usually known commodities


'I sacked a lad about 2 years ago. Mainly for being a lying, thieving, woman beating, young girl grooming muppet who wasn’t very good at his job'.....and you let him go?
You would not believe it all mate. One of the real hare bits to swallow is how many folk thought I was the c*nt until it all came out. The rest of the estate staff where he was based had a big leaving do, in the local pub, on my tab 😂 calling me all sorts. Funnily enough they all went a bit quiet when it all came out 😂
 

neilo

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Montgomeryshire
Just curious really, what got me thinking was a previous employee of mine.

People always say good staff in Ag are really hard to find. But rarely do people seem to request references from previous employers when they are looking to take someone on. Why is this?

I sacked a lad about 2 years ago. Mainly for being a lying, thieving, woman beating, young girl grooming muppet who wasn’t very good at his job.

Interestingly he left me, went somewhere else, I never got asked for a reference and they found him to be the same.

He was booted out there.... and is now shepherd at a very prestigious estate..... for the queen.

No references asked by them of either previous employers ......

Just find it a bit strange.

If you sacked him for those reasons then he’s unlikely to have offered you name as a reference.

He may well have offered another previous employer, or his mate down the pub pretending to be one.
 
If you sacked him for those reasons then he’s unlikely to have offered you name as a reference.

He may well have offered another previous employer, or his mate down the pub pretending to be one.
Maybe it’s just me..... but if someone came looking for a shepherds job, wouldn’t you ask them their experience and asked about their previous jobs ..... and been a bit suspicious of but time gaps they didn’t want to mention!
 

pgk

Member
Just curious really, what got me thinking was a previous employee of mine.

People always say good staff in Ag are really hard to find. But rarely do people seem to request references from previous employers when they are looking to take someone on. Why is this?

I sacked a lad about 2 years ago. Mainly for being a lying, thieving, woman beating, young girl grooming muppet who wasn’t very good at his job.

Interestingly he left me, went somewhere else, I never got asked for a reference and they found him to be the same.

He was booted out there.... and is now shepherd at a very prestigious estate..... for the queen.

No references asked by them of either previous employers ......

Just find it a bit strange.
You liked him then? 🤣
 

Agri Spec Solicitor

Member
Livestock Farmer
References are of limited use and it is right many prospective employers do not even ask. Issues include:
1. Many employers will not go further than confirming employment from X to Y.
2. Some employers give good references to help the employee to leave when in truth the employee is no longer wanted.
3. Some employers (wrongly) think they could face a claim if they say a thing negative.

The following might be a useful question from a prospective employer to the existing employer:
“Are you aware of any reason why I should not employ Mr X?”
That is a tougher question than it looks.
 

Tim G

Member
Livestock Farmer
I left school and worked a local farmer as 'the boy' pre ag college. When I finished college, having worked back there through the holidays etc, he offered me a full time job taking on more and more responsibilities. In the end we started a small business in partnership. When I left, after 14 years, to start on my own, I found a part time job driving a tractor to help make ends meet. They asked for a reference and I gave the name of my previous employer on the condition that I spoke to him first so I could ask, out of politeness. When I 'phoned him, he asked lots of questions then said he wasn't prepared to put anything in writing about me, but he could speak to them if they called! I relayed the message to the potential employer and he just said "What a knob, can you come next week."
 

neilo

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Montgomeryshire
Maybe it’s just me..... but if someone came looking for a shepherds job, wouldn’t you ask them their experience and asked about their previous jobs ..... and been a bit suspicious of but time gaps they didn’t want to mention!

Definitely, and it certainly would raise a few doubts if they couldn’t explain those time gaps.
Maybe they did explain them though, giving a lurid description of their past employer and why they couldn’t work for them any longer? Folks make up all sorts of cr*p if they want a job.:(
 

MRT

Member
Livestock Farmer
On the other side of the coin I have witnessed a vet absolutely slag previous employees off on the phone in front of all his current staff. He gave references like this twice to two seperate assistant vets. One had made mistakes, though nothing in comparison to his own. The other did nothing wrong that I know of.
 
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