‘I had a job offer in hand and was preparing to start work, when I get a call from HR that the offer has been rescinded’: Boss gives a poor reference to a former employee, costing them a new position within the company

Author image for Etai Eshet
Etai Eshet • Editor
Mar 12, 2025 1:00 AM EDT

here's nothing quite like the delicate dance between pretending to care about employees and quietly sabotaging them when they leave. Who doesn't love a game where everyone loses?! 

Today's lucky contender receives a once-friendly manager who suddenly becomes the puppet master of their downfall, pulling strings behind the scenes to ensure they never escape the clutches of corporate despair.

This story is practically the official handbook of professional life: trust people just enough to let your guard down, then watch as they shatter whatever plans you dared to make. Our naive, hardworking player was asking for work-life balance, which we all know are managers' favorite words. The moment they suggested they were human, they were labeled as ungrateful, unmotivated, and unworthy. duties disappeared, worth plummeted, and they were left wading through office purgatory until they finally decided to leave.

But as I already mentioned, there's no winning in this game. You either play along or risk becoming a cautionary tale. As this tale is.

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  • When employees do leave, they shouldn’t expect a clean break. The farewell smiles and reassurances of being eligible to work ever again are nothing more than cover for the possible corporate poison that awaits. Enter the ultimate ex-boss revenge: The Bad Reference. The ultimate card to keep in hand for when you're a really mean and spiteful person. A true masterpiece of subtle sabotage that ensures the “rival’s” name becomes eternally smudged with “professional failure." 


     

  • "Job offer rescinded due to poor reference"

    "I'm scared I will continue to get blacklisted by a former manager"
    via BelleMedia

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • I just left a hostile work environment. My former manager and I had an excellent working relationship for several years of my career. After some significant life changes, I reduced hours at work. This came with an
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  • unexpected shift in my manager's attitude toward me. I was immediately excluded from most of my former duties, with my work being re-allocated to others. I expected that. But then I was
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  • removed from job duties that were simply part of the job. It was a gradual shift over several months. I realized that I needed to move on, and arranged a conversation with my boss to
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  • Cheezburger Image 10478870016
    via Minerva Studios

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • submit my notice--at which time I completely lost my cool (in most part due to being blown off AGAIN for valid concerns) and aired my grievances. My old boss
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  • later told me not to come back, put me on admin leave (paid), and said I was eligible for re-hire within the company.
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  • A few weeks later, I have a job offer in hand and am preparing to start work, when I get a call from HR that the offer has been rescinded due to a poor reference from my former manager. I did
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  • not list him on my resume, but as this is part of the same company, it figures that they would reach out to my former manager. I also didn't expect him to give a poor reference, as our relationship
    via Connect-Cut-588
  • prior to my resignation was overall very positive. I would like to continue to work for this company, but I'm scared that I will continue to get informally blacklisted by a former manager. Any advice on how to navigate this?
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  • Edited to add: Thanks for the feedback and kind words. I know I'm an idiot and I appreciate those of you stating it kindly. Cheers to you all!
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  • Cheezburger Image 10478869760
    via Minerva Studio

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • New_Commission 7749 I think you already know this but it sounds like you won't be able to work at that company. It was worth a shot but a bad internal reference is hard to overcome. The world is much bigger than one company and you'll land somewhere else that is great.
    via New_Commission7749
  • Worried_Horse 199 Find a job at a different company. You've burned your bridge with the current one as long as that former manager is there.
    via Worried_Horse199
  • FronarCantaloupe This happened to me where my offer was rescinded because of bad references, except the references I used badmouthed me because (likely) one was jealous of the position that I got. Thought of that guy like a mentor, but I
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  • ended up cutting off all contact with him. Just move on, these things happen, and hope the next hiring company doesn't find or reach your old manager, if they do, be prepared to defend your opinions
    via FronarCantaloupe
  • meanderingwolf Your only option with your current employer is to meet with the manager and clear things up with him. If you can't do that, then your best option is to leave. However, you still run the risk of a prospective employer contacting him, so you might as well just meet with him to clear things up.
    via meanderingwolf
  • allislost77 People need to realize that co- workers aren't your friends. You're a tooth in the cog. With what you wrote, it's probably time to start looking for a new job.
    via allislost77
  • snorkels00 Yea you are good to have to cut your losses. No longer list anyone at the company as a reference and look outside the company for references. Any company that would ding you for down sizing for life reasons us not a good company.
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  • Companies don't get to own you because they give you a pay check. You provide a service they bearly pay what most are worth. Cut your losses look elsewhere. Good luck.
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  • Big-Broccoli-9654 I thought most places have policies that they only confirm the with dates and title of the person who worked there because of liability issues.
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  • Effective-Middle 1399 Write a letter threatening that due to malicious reference you're suing for damages. Just to mess with them at worst- might get some money at best.
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  • Plenty Conscious If you find out any managers that hate your old manager, you might have a shot with them. Otherwise like others have said, you probably want to change companies.
    via Plenty_Conscious
  • BizznectApp That's brutal. One bad reference shouldn't have that much power, especially when your track record was solid. Maybe HR can help, but honestly, might be better to move on, sounds like a toxic place anyway
    via BizznectApp
  • Cindyf65 You should see a lawyer. My prior company told those of us who were managers never to do this as we would be sued. Ask the HR person to put it in writing that this is why the offer was rescinded.
    via Cindyf65
  • JosKarith Tell your old boss that he's an idiot. This was a chance to get you off his department cost centre and he blew it out of childish spite. Now you're going to be submitting a formal complaint to HR for him creating a hostile working atmosphere and intend on
    via JosKarith
  • dragging it out to keep on draining his budget And start applying elsewhere. Even if you won this one having an enemy at the manager level in the company is going to bite you again and again.
    via JosKarith

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management boss workplace-stories hr toxic-workplace manager bosses work PTO managers supervisor workplace Horrible Bosses work-life balance
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