how do you overcome a bad reference ?

[kkat]

What is the name of your state? Texas
Please, please tell me what one can do to overcome a bad reference from a former employer.
My 21 yr. old daughter has to give this employer as a reference because she learned all of her skills from them & worked there for the last 2 1/2 years. Her skills were excellent but she & the office manager clashed.
Also, she was made to sign a paper stating she would not file for unemployment before they would give her the last paycheck she earned. Is this legal?

 

[Beth3]

Unemployment benefits are provided by the STATE. They are funded by employer payroll taxes but the employer does not determine who does or does not receive UC. Whatever ridiculous document they had your daughter sign is NOT valid. Your daughter should apply for UC benefits immediately - and she should tell the UC office that the employer held her last paycheck hostage until she signed a statement agreeing not to apply for UC benefits and then she should call your State's Department of Labor and tell them the same thing.

Aaaaargh. It's idiot employers like this that give the rest of us a bad name.

Now as to the reference problem, I can't answer that without knowing what the employer is saying and how her poor relationship with the office manager is being portrayed. You're her mother so you probably can't help but be biased, so let's at least acknowledge that.

It's possible that your daughter walked on water and the new office manager was a royal witch. It's also possible that your daughter was a handful to manage despite her excellent skills and a parting of the ways was the only way to go. And as is frequently the case, the truth is probably somewhere in the middle.

 

[JETX]

In addition to Beth3's excellent (and accurate) response, your daughters best way to 'get ahead of this' would be to talk with any interviewer and explain the apparent personality clash with the former supervisor..... and maybe offer an alternative contact of someone able to give an objective opinion.