Twice a week we publish problems that will feature in a forthcoming Dear Jeremy advice column in the Saturday Guardian so that readers can offer their own advice and suggestions. We then print the best of your comments alongside Jeremy’s own insights. Here is the latest dilemma – what are your thoughts?
Just before Christmas I was verbally offered a one-year contract with a public sector organisation after being interviewed. This is subject to two references from former employers. The first one was provided by my most recent employer. However, the other one is dragging its heels – it uses a shared service centre for personnel services and it is notoriously slow. The personnel department of the organisation offering the job is doing nothing and is leaving all of the chasing to me.
The organisation is now threatening to withdraw the offer – it needs someone fast. What are my options? Are there any legal time limits within which employers are required to return references? I have offered to collect and deliver it myself, to no avail.
Do you need advice on a work issue? For Jeremy’s and readers’ help, send a brief email to dear.jeremy@theguardian.com. Please note that he is unable to answer questions of a legal nature or to reply personally.
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