References

[ian.settle1]

Problem is that you may have the most useless and lazy barsteward going but by law you can not give them a bad reference which is why companies do not give references anymore only that you worked for them from start to finish dates.

 

[Plonker 3]

You can give a bad reference, as long as it's truthful you can write what you want.

What Trev said is more what I was getting at, just thought some recommendations of the good folk on here maybe welcome?

 

[Besoeker]

Maybe, but one bad reference doesn't make someone a bad person likewise one good reference doesn't make you a decent spark, but at least then you stand a chance of people whose judgement you trust can be heard. That's why I also said thread locked and PMs only so no bad blood in the public domain.

All good points.
I've always been a little a bit wary with formal written references. Nobody is going to give a bad written reference. Guarded maybe. I have taken on people with no references. But I've known them personally.

That also can need careful handling. We have a very strict ethics policy and handing out a job because somebody is your pal is subject to scrutiny.

 

[Pete999]

Half the ppl on here are prob useless anyway. The saying 'talk the talk' springs to mind a lot

Speak for yourself mate, I take it your comment includes you?

 

[Adam W]

A few problems with references are that employers won't give a bad one unless you really hack them off, which could be for something like leaving so they have to find and train someone else up.
Likewise they might give a good reference to get someone out of the way.

Even if references were any kind of indication of someone's workplace competence, in this line of work it seems to depend on when someone starts on the site - the first to get there know the site best so take charge, while those in later tend to end up 'helping', making them seem less competent, especially if they're not given adequate direction. The person responsible for giving direction will usually be the person asked for a reference; they're effectively giving a reference on their own management skills, not on the individual worker.