What can my previous employer say during a interview reference call for a new job?

I had a job last year and I had some family things come up and walked out on the job without giveing a notice and never went back. Now recently I am trying to find a new job and I had one set in stone until they called my previous employer which told them that i just walked out on the job. Can they tell them this, is this legal? I did not get the job because of the information they disclosed.|||the new employer didn%26#039;t ask why you left the last job at the interview? They normally do that...strange they didn%26#039;t. It%26#039;s a tough call on what they can say. They didn%26#039;t lie and if you didn%26#039;t tell the last employer why, it could have left open the question as to your commitment. If you did tell your last boss the deal, they should have just said %26quot;it%26#039;s unfortunate he had to leave suddenly, but we understood the deal.%26quot; I think the PC way to say someone is a bum is to only give a statement of %26quot;so and so worked here from whenever to whenever%26quot; if they say that and only that, it means you were a bum and they are glad you%26#039;re gone. I think anything beyond that (unless it%26#039;s positive) they push their luck and risk being sued by you. Especially if they said something negative because they would have to provide written proof you were a bad employee.





but to push the point, you%26#039;d have to probably get a lawyer. Maybe you can call the new place and explain it all?|||They aren%26#039;t supposed to be able to but they do everday. Maybe you could talk to the better business bureau about it.|||Yes it%26#039;s legal, and if they didn%26#039;t really like you, they can make up stuff. Your prospective hirer doesn%26#039;t care about your explanations, he%26#039;s more likely to agree with the old employer anyways, he%26#039;s an employer himself remember. Now you know, so do not use this for a reference again, if you need a reference, talk to a good friend, who%26#039;s willing to say whatever you want, ie. your friend is a freelancer/owns his own business ( a small store, etc.) and you worked for him/her.