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drmax · Newbie Joined: 19 Nov 2007 Posts: 1 Career Advice: +0/-0

Hi. A friend of mine recently was fired for falsification of a company document, without absolute proof. A lawyer has been seen, without anything to go on. My friend was a manager over several employees, which someone altered some dates on these useless documents and then my friend got hold of them, which were in his possession and the company put the blame on him, for anyone else said they didn't do it. REAL NICE, EH? So now this persons 14 yrs is forever gone.
We understand that "the work number" gives out the VOE info, and it states "inactive" for work status. What the main concern is, what does my friend tell the future employer? I believe there should be no lieing about this situation, as this could come back to haunt him. Tricky, indeed. Is there any advice out there from anyone, in what to say? No doubt a future employer is going to ask, "after 14 yrs, what happened"?
Thank you

lexa10881 · Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 5:16 am Post subject:

Yes, you are correct in the need for honesty. Being honest is much easier than being found out later. It sounds like there's not much to his firing, and that someone was just looking for a reason to can him. When the time comes, he needs to explain himself in a way that does not badmouth the employer, just highlights the confusion over the weird circumstances around his dismissal.

http://www.cvtips.com/justification_for_being_fired_interview.html

Pauloz · Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 10:04 pm Post subject:

drmax-

I agree with lexa, that wasn't termination, it was assassination.

Best option here is to be entirely clear about how that situation developed.

It's a little strange that it didn't occur to the employer that altering dates on anything is really not a great idea if someone else has copies. Guaranteed to be found out, it's a staggeringly stupid thing to do.

Your friend might be in a stronger position than he thinks. if the employer didn't check who handled those documents, before firing your friend, the employer is a very trusting soul indeed.

He's also an idiot. In theory, altering legal documents is a form of fraud, and it's a criminal offence. The reaction is way off target.

Saying "they didn't do it" doesn't mean a thing, to a competent employer, who could be sued for falsification and/or misrepresentation under some circumstances.

So your friend should make it clear that he had no knowledge of the alterations, until told about them, and actually just tell his side of the story. He spent 14 years not altering documents, why start now?

The new employer should be able to see what was wrong with the way the former employer handled the matter. (Not least of which is that a person with years of service didn't get a word in.)

Don't even need to badmouth, the story will explain itself.

I think your friend's credibility will improve as he tells the story, and the former employer's credibility will be zero.

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