Altered Reference

I think you have answered your own question. On the other hand, everyone makes mistakes and it's your call to decide if he's learned from this one.

I forgot to add this:

Altering a resume is as simple as scanning your name, writing one's own resume and inserting your name to it. Easily done with any photo shop type software.

read all about it....
http://www.fakeresume.com/How_Common_is_Resume_Fraud.html

I rarely offer written references. I alway tell crew to feel free to give out my email or telephone number.

It would appear that this individual traded what you said was a small negative on the accurate document, for a much larger negative rep going forward. Sounds like this person created their own ruinous situation.

shaft1279 wrote:

Followed by:

And finally:

Here is my perspective on the issue FWIW:

1) Your post is light on detail:

I'm left wondering what "the one slightly negative comment" made was? You also neglect to recount what excuse/s this ex. deckie gave you for falsifying and removing that "slightly negative comment" from your original reference.

2) Some of your statements appear to be contradictory:

The impression I get is that your original written reference to this deckhand was favourable overall, except for "one slightly negative comment". Why would anyone then go to the pains of falsifying a reference to remove a "slightly negative" (that some other employers might interpret as a "constructively-positive") comment? How does the removal of "one slightly negative comment" give rise to the current situation where you felt it necessary to "ruin another man's career" because "it tarnishes your name", in the light of events that only became known to you after the period of the individual's actual employment with you? I was always under the impression that a written reference applied solely to the period an individual was employed. Whatever happened before or happens afterwards shouldn't necessarily tarnish your reputation. Or do you really believe that an employer, having once employed someone, should somehow accept a legal or moral responsibility for reporting all past and/or future actions by this ex. employee that come to his attention?!

It's far too easy these days "to destroy someone's livelihood". Whilst I can empathise with your predicament, I would also suggest that anyone who effectively "puts into motion" the wheels that might eventually result in somebody else losing their livelihood, reflect well on whether "they have been angels" throughout their careers also.

We're talking after all, about an ex. deckhand. Probably someone aged 18-30 or thereabouts. Remember being young?! Or perhaps not? I've worked for my present employer for over 15 years. For the 2 out of 3 jobs I had prior to that, I was allowed to write my own references. Many years before that, I too had my ups and downs. I never ever falsified a reference, but I guess that was because the equivalent of a PC then cost £50,000. When I was about 23, I was very upset with my then employer whom I considered had given me a very rough deal and were "letting me go" finally. And so I approached a major competitor offering to "sell them" a complete computer listing of all my ex. employer's customers. I thought it was worth at least £2,000 but really would have been OK to "give it away". As it happens, this competitor's MD had some "moral substance" I guess and contacted my ex. employer. I got a phone call from my ex. employer - either I destroyed the listing "and nothing more would come out of it, or else...?!" I thought about the possible repercussions and decided to burn the computer listing (with some regret because I really did think that they'd been very unfair with me). Way before that, when I was 14, I "borrowed" a Jeep. And crashed it. The owner decided not to prosecute and though I was simply given a very stiff talking-to by the police chief, I have not repeated that offence (or any others that I'm aware of).

I'd like to think that what I benefitted from in my more youthful days was known as "indulgence" from others. An all-encompassing term to explain away the errors of youth perhaps. But a valid reason in those days to allow someone another chance, whether that was from a police chief or simply an ex. employer.

Are you yourself so perfect...?!

BTW, I've been in the yachting industry for so long now that I could (but I won't) give you some examples of say, current skippers of major superyachts who are today perfect examples of those who take their responsibilities to their owners very seriously indeed. So seriously, in fact, that they actively distance themselves from the suppliers of yacht services and equipment that they used 10-15 years ago, just in case these suppliers' reputations "for acquiesence to their former customers' requirements" presumably catches up with them. There are some yacht skippers I could even today point at and say that I know just how they managed to equip their kitchens with all-new appliances, or their salons with the latest AV equipment or even how they managed to build the swimming pool or extension at their villas 10-20 years ago.

Back in those days, "the skipper who didn't take advantage" was probably considered a fool. Times change. Today, nobody is innocent, yet someone always ends up paying the price. Sometimes unjustly, it would appear.

PS. I notice that you're posting from France. What do you think about French taxes and social security deductions? Do you declare your income as a skipper on the Cote d'Azur and can you help anyone else here in your position with minimising their tax liabilities?!