Can a firm give a bad reference for a person who had resigned advice of union rep without stain on record.?

The person resigned, on advice of union rep that he would be dismissed if the matter was pursued. This interview and others took place while he was sick with depression (Certified) It later transpired that he lost a job offer after training due to a reference fron the previous firm saying he left prior to discipline. He in fact left due to health reasons and was told by the union rep that there would be no mention on his employment record if he did so.Can a firm give a bad reference for a person who had resigned advice of union rep without stain on record.?
A firm can decline to give someone a reference but they are not allowed to give them a bad one as this jeopardises their ability to find future employment. I would take it up with the Union again or threaten to sue.Can a firm give a bad reference for a person who had resigned advice of union rep without stain on record.?
I grew up in a Union town, and one thing that I heard way too many times was that the Union Rep was chosen because they were usually the most inept person in the place and this got them heck out of the way so real work could get done.
As far as i understood it, in the uk, its against the law to give a bad reference, they can refuse to give one but are not allowed to give a bad one.
No they can't give a bad review, they can refuse to give one which is the same thing in the eyes of a future employer.. but what you have described isn't really bad.. you admitted yourself he jumped before he was pushed.
Technially speaking no one is allowed to give you a bad reference in a legal sense because it falls under anti-blacklisting laws. However a person can decline to say anything about you other than that you have worked for them, which is the same thing as getting a bad reference.
It may be too late, he may also sue someone, but he should go back to the firm that gave him the bum rep with his medical reports and ask them to write him another one. What a sad story.
it would depend on the exact wording of the reference they gave it might be possible he can sue for slander but it is unlikely they would win
im sure you can sue if you are misrepresented in a referance seek legal advice (C.A.B)