bad reference

[billy h]

I live in Arkansas,I worked for my former employer for 20 yrs.2yrs as warehouse manager,I left the company with severence pay. I had a job offer for a position as asst.
manager,I accepted the job, the company called my previous boss as a reference. In that conversation my former boss stated that i could not manage people.Now the job offer has changed their mind about hiring me. Can my former boss say this, what can I do.

 

[ALawyer]

If the former boss is being truthful, as he sees it, he can say what he believes.

If he is being vindictive that's a no no, but proving that is hard.

Most firms only give name rank and serial number to avoid being sued.

Your best bet is trying to counter the bad reference -- you'd been there 20 years, you got raises and managed people. Ask the possible new firm to contact others, like some of the people you managed.