Lifestyle Home & Family

Question: After working for a contractor for five years, we started having personality conflicts. I stayed on because I liked the work and he was rarely in the office. He was then the defendant in a lawsuit, and I was subpoenaed to testify against him. He briefed me on what to say, but it was not the truth, so I refused.

At Work: Resolving Conflicts with Past Employers for New Job Search.

I gave notice, and he hired two different people to replace me. They both quit in their first week, so he called and begged me to come back. I had planned to move out of state, so I was not eager to return. He said he would double my pay, so I accepted the offer. When it was time to pay me, he reneged on his offer. I called and reported the event to his lawyer, and that did it.


The check arrived in the mail, but I still left and did not return to work there. He gave me a reference letter, but when a potential employer called him, he denied writing it. Luckily, I was hired despite the conflict, but it is in my human resources file. What can I do?

Answer: Be honest with your new employer about your former boss's being under the pressure of a lawsuit. Lawsuits easily are checked, and the employer, if it wants to see what the charges are, can read the complaint and will realize you are in the right.