going for interview whilst in full time empolyment. (employee, employer, job)

[wendz]

hi
i have recently gone for a new job and given permission for my present employer to be contacted for reference. now my present employer is asking for the date i went for interview have they a right to this information from me? today they have handed me a letter for a formal hearing with HR regarding this matter and say this could lead to being a sackable offence. can anyone help me regarding this issue?

[maf763]

Do you have to give a reason when you are out of work? If you were dishonest about why you were out, that might be their official reason to let you go, so they could fire you for cause. Frankly, this was probably inevitable, given that you have let them know you are planning to leave - don't know that there is much you can do here other than hope you get the other job.

[IonRedline08]

Did you take off work for it, as in calling out, etc?

If not, I would probably tell them.
If you did, I would not tell them, or, give them a wrong date, like a Saturday, or a late night after your shift. In fact, that is probably what I would say . " I had by interview on Wednesday, Oct 21st at 6:30 pm, after my shift."
I mean, it is your time.
For the future though, I would NOT allow them to contact your current employer for a reference....they should understand

[Jesse69]

You screwed up!

[sike0000]

Originally Posted by IonRedline08

For the future though, I would NOT allow them to contact your current employer for a reference....they should understand

X2

Never allow them to contact a current employer. I have known too many people that got fired for that.

I was reprimanded one time because a current employer thought I might have been looking for a job.

[Willy-Bill]

Legit lying time
Car trouble.
Sick.
Family sick.
Near death experience.
Etc.
As for them wanting to talk to the current employer. Tell them your current tenure at current job is enough of a reference.

[SmerkyGrl]

Originally Posted by wendz

hi
i have recently gone for a new job and given permission for my present employer to be contacted for reference.

Why would you have done this? It is perfectly acceptable and professional to request potential employers not to contact your current employer.

[GypsySoul22]

This sounds like slavery. Why do employers think they own you??

Can you tell them that you keep your options open because no job is stable and that this company (where you interviewed) was just something you did out of self protection? How long have you been at your present job? Have there been any lay offs? Can you tell them you applied there before your got your present job and you went (off hours?) out of curiosity?

[maf763]

Please don't compare a company sacking an employee with one obvious foot out the door with slavery.

The OP's job is far less stable because s/he has openly lobbied to leave the company. As a boss, would you want to keep around an employee who might be switching to a competitor soon?