Letter of Recommendation .. we all been through that path .. at least most of us .. As a board members on several orgs; I read students essays and lor serving on the scholarship committee. This year; however, is probably the first that I read such horrible LORs. There are several students who have unbelievable scores, grades, and accomplishments in and outside of classroom. I am shocked that teachers would write bad things about them such as too timid; not a leader; don't participate in discussion; etc .. just totally opposite from the another lor on the same student. The committee ended up throwing all of these students out because we don't have the resource to follow-up and verify everything. Personally, I feel that when a teacher has nothing good to say or if s/he can't write a strong lor for the student; s/he should reject the request of a lor. I don't understand why a teacher would go do such a thing to block a student's path to success; just so wrong. don't you think?
I think you are talking about work. Legally, former employer can't talk negatively about a former employee unless it is a fact and proven in the court - criminal offense for stealing at the office, etc .. which should've been on the employee's application already anyway.
