Doing job reference for a former co-worker -- **answered** thanks everyone

[Heddi]

This is a computer based reference. Most options are multiple choice. There are a few areas where I can type freely.

I was not a supervisor. I was an RN that worked and delegated directly to her (she was a Medical Asistant) but I had no hiring/firing/salary/etc power over her.

SHe is a super worker. Absolutely awesome in every way except that she was, and is, addicted to her iphone and it really cut into her work productivity. SHe used the phone in patient rooms either on the phone or texting in front of patients. That's unprofessional and a possible HIPAA violation. She also has a very hectic personal life where every day there is another crisis, so she had a lot of coming in late, leaving early, extra long lunch, sick days. But I wasn't directly in charge of that, so I don't think I can answer to that, but it did affect the team we were on (Me, her, Dr, NP).

I know that if I was a supervisor I would be limited in what I could say. She's a single mom, and she has so many great talents and I think she'd be great for the job she's applying for....but I know as someone who worked with her directly and shared an office with her, her productivity was feast or famine -- 100000% or 2% depending on what was going on on Facebook and Instagram and Twitter.

I don't want to sabotage this job review, but I also think that she has some honest flaws along with honest strong points and I don't know whether it's my job to be THAT honest in the review, or just give her a good review and let them find out about her bad habits themselves

any suggestions?

[Scuba]

1. Why would you want to? Do you not believe she's capable of doing better?

[Heddi]

4. That's the thing, I don't know. WHen we worked together

she was moved from MA to another job with more responsibilities and one that she wanted, and while I didn't have any direct report with her at her new position(in the same office) she was on that phone 8 hours a day. In front of patients. Which is a huge no-no in healthcare.

I know our lackluster mgr had talked with her about it, but I wasn't privy to that conversation other than knowing it happened because people had complained and she and the mgr told me it happened. If anything, after the talk, the phone was out more. We shared an office and once I counted (I was asked to) that she received 300 text notifications in an 8 hour period. The next day was in the 270's. And all of those got responses.

That really affected her being able to do her job.

[magical thyme]

2. Did she ask you up front if you would be a reference for her?

or did you just get contacted out of the blue?

[Heddi]

5. She asked me yesterday via text (snarf) about 8 seconds before I got the email

from the company with a link to their review site.

So she asked as she was doing it.

[magical thyme]

17. looks like you handled it well and fairly.

for some reason, your reply didn't show up in my posts list, but I would have said what Sanity Claws said.

If someone asks, and you can't give a positive reference, then decline.

If someone doesn't have the courtesy and good sense to ask up front, then they're out of luck.

Of course, there was the admin that a group I was in all desperately wanted to get rid of. To the point that somebody got hold of her resume and sent it around to various agencies. We gave her glowing references the first time around, but that apparently aroused suspicians so she didn't get the job.

Next round we all got smart and gave more balanced references -- for example, I told the rep "she's the kind of person who really needs a job she can sink her teeth into" (subtext: so she won't be sinking her teeth into everybody around her!) and she got a temp job through a contract agency.

6 months later the agency called back looking for references again. I had *just* heard the co-worker next door tell somebody "I already gave a reference" and hang up her phone. So when I got a call 2 minutes later, I said the same thing. I can still remember the agency rep groaning "Oh no...." before hanging up.

[Sanity Claws]

3. Don't do it

If you are unable to make positive remarks, tell the former employee and let her decide whether she still wants you as a reference.

[Heddi]

6. She's out of town for 2 weeks on vacation

I can't ask her, she's incommunicado.....

[Sanity Claws]

9. Then you be incommunicado

Don't respond or else send an email in lieu of the response they want.

[Warren Stupidity]

7. Politely decline to be a reference.

If this is the co-worker asking you to be a reference I would, as politely as possible, decline.

If this is a blind reference where a third party is asking you without the co-workers knowledge I'd just tell the truth: distracted by phone. It might not even be a deal breaker.

[Heddi]

8. So this is what I did

90% of the questions were multiple choice about her ability to do jobs, connect with others, etc etc

I answered those honestly. Most of the answers were "above average" or "strongly yes". Some were "yes" or "average". I didn't list her as below average or strongly no or anything because I didn't feel that way about any of the questions.

on questions that dealt with multi-tasksing, getting the job done, being distracted, I put "average" because the truth is everyone her age group that worked at that clinic had their phone attached to their hand and seemed incapable of performing any task without posting about it on FB and taking a photo for Instagram and making a hashtag for twitter #applyingabandage. So in comparison with her other phone-addicted coworkers, she was average.

One of the freeform asked what our working relationship was, and that was straightforward.

The other free-form (that caused me to ask this question) was "would you hire this person again? please explain" and had some other criteria

So I read the responses here and that some FB friends and posted and I answered "I was not in a position to hire at X company, so I cannot answer this question" but did select that I was available for telephone followup questions if necessary.

thanks for everyone's responses.

[Xipe Totec]

10. Here is a template:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x7186797

[Heddi]

11. that's awesome

I'm keeping that in my list of sample reference letters

[Xipe Totec]

14. I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[Heddi]

12. I can't stop reading this

Can I post this to FB if I attribute it to you? This is too awesome

[Xipe Totec]

13. It's not mine, it's form the New Yorker

https://www.physics.ohio-state.edu/~wilkins/writing/Handouts/vgs/smpl-recom.html

[cwydro]

18. That's pretty funny.

[Skittles]

15. I would not recommend anyone addicted to a handheld

and I would tell them why

[HeiressofBickworth]

16. Your first move should have been

to check your employer's handbook on employee references to see what is required or permitted. By giving an employment reference in violation of your employer's rules, you could have placed yourself at risk. This could arise if the company hires her on your recommendation and she fails to perform. Complaints could be made to your employer who would probably be upset that you furnished any kind of a statement in the company name.

In my last job I was asked for a reference. I said that it was company policy that references were to come from the Human Resources Department and therefore, I wasn't able to furnish one. I was able to follow company policy without alienating the co-worker asking for the reference.