Bangalore: When you are back on the job market for new employment opportunities, even if you have a handful of experience you might be worried when you name your former employer in reference column. You might be terminated or downsized; in that case most employees will say you were fired, and few may say you were terminated for a reason or simply dismissed. Anyway, the chances grow higher for your potential employer to know you were fired.

When you are terminated, it may be difficult for you to deal with. Probably you have to work hard for getting a new one. Even if you could find a right job, you may be asked to pass a reference check. If you are fired or dismissed, it is possible your former employer may say something bad about you, but it is not liable to do. Today’s employers are much prepared to say something about their former employees as potential legal responsibility can get hold of that.

Most of the companies will not reveal anything more than the details of hiring date, leaving date, rate of pay and job title. If your former employer is asked further more questions, the answer will be likely ‘the company policy will not allow sharing more information’. But for your former employer, he must give the reference in ‘good faith’ whether that is good or bad. Unless it is true and documented, your former employer is not supposed to put any negative remarks about you. According to Indian Penal Code (IPC) section 499: Defamation, “Whoever, by words either spoken or intended to be read, or by signs or by visible representations, makes or publishes any imputation concerning any person intending to harm, or knowing or having reason to believe that such imputation will harm, the reputation of such person, is said, except in the cases hereinafter expected, to defame that person.”