<prompt> Human: I received an offer of employment a couple of days ago. The offer is contingent on three things: I pass a background check, I pass a drug screening, and they confirm my employment dates and compensation with my current employer. The only problem I have is with the 3rd item. The new job told me that once Ive passed my background check and drug screening, they will call me and ask me to give my current job my two weeks notice and ultimately resign from that position. The recruiter at the new company told me that once Ive put in my two weeks notice with my current employer, they will then contact my current employer to confirm my dates of employment and my compensation. The recruiter said that it is very normal for the current employer to fire me rather than letting me finish out my two weeks I live in Texas, where this practice is allowed. I dont actually mind if my current job doesnt let me finish my two weeks... I dont want to work there anymore, and I am very excited about the new job. I have a some issues with the new employer contacting my current employer. The first issue is that I currently work for a very small company with no formal HR department, so the new job will have to talk to the owner of the firm I currently work at my boss to confirm my dates of employment and compensation. My boss is not a nice man and is not aware of laws regarding how a current employer cannot say negative things about an employee that is looking for a new job. Basically, he might say bad things about me to the new employer, thereby sullying my reputation. On top of this, there is a very large chance he simply wont return the calls or emails of my new employer, because he doesnt want to aid me in getting a new job. I know my boss pretty well, and I firmly believe that he will either talk negatively about me, or will ignore the requests of my new employer to confirm my employment. This may seem like I am overreacting and just assuming the worst will happen, but I have worked for this man for years now and have gotten to know how he handles situations where employees are seeking new jobs. He does not handle it well.I need advice on how I can navigate this issue with the new employer. They have already mailed me the offer of employment. I have signed the offer and sent it back. I will certainly pass the background check and drug screening. I would be absolutely devastated if I dont end up finally getting the job because my boss said horrible things about me, or because he ignored their requests. Given this sticky situation, is there anyway I can explain this to the new employer, without making it sound like I am hiding something from them such as me being a bad employee? I would much rather confirm my dates of employment by providing them with pay stubs, or my W2s, or really anything else. It also really confuses me that the new employer literally gave me the written offer of employment, an entire 200 page packet of information containing documents relating to benefits, confidentiality agreements, compliance-related materials, etc. I dont understand why they would extend the offer to me when it is only contingent that they are able to speak to my current employer. Plus, the new company is a giant, global company with thousands of employees. So, I feel like this is their standard operating procedures - to contact peoples current employers to confirm compensation and employment dates. I dont want to seem like Im hiding something, or like I am trying to get them to change their hiring procedures. But, to put it as simply as possible, I dont want them to contact my current employer because I am nervous about how he will react, and that he may ruin my chances of becoming employed with the new company. The nightmare scenario would be that my current boss would fire me, and then say such horrible things about me to the new job that they dont even end up hiring me because of the bad reference. What should I do?Assistant: Discuss with your hiring manager, or recruiter at the new job and tell them the same thing you posted here. There is no reason they cant verify these things by your tax documents or check stubs. Human: So you dont think the hiring manager will think that I am hiding something? You know, what sucks the most is that I really have been an outstanding employee at my current job, and I have nothing to hide. My current boss is just so incredibly difficult and bi-polar that I fear his reaction, and some sort of retaliation from him.Maybe when I speak to the hiring manager on Tuesday shell understand the scenario. According to her LinkedIn, she has worked there for 5 years, so I cant imagine this is the first time shes run into an issue like this.Im going to do what you and some other suggested and try to use pay stubstax documents as proof of my employment dates and compensation.  <response>: I would just tell them that you are concerned that your current job may create a hostile work environment or fire you if they find out you are looking. Use that as a reason you are seeking new employment. Also the past compensation thing is a load of crap, companies typically use this to lowball you on salary and promotion. 