Post #2930805

I used to work with a guy who was very obviously dealing with some unmanaged (possibly undiagnosed) neurodivergence. He eventually got fired for ticking off other people we worked with/for, but I always personally had a pleasant working relationship with him. In the year or so since he was fired, we've chatted a few times about work-related things and his new job (same field, slightly different role, different company), and it sounds like he's figuring some of that mental health stuff out, slowly. But now the awkward part. He's applying for a new, more permanent job, and asked me to be a reference... which I said yes to, because I realise how many other people we worked with would definitely say no. But I was also -slightly- motivated by the knowledge that this new job would involve a move to an entirely different province for him. Not because I don't want to see him again or anything sinister like that, but because I think he REALLY needs a fresh start with people who don't know anyone who would have disliked him. He kind of needs to escape the legacy of having annoyed people enough to fire him. And that feels kind of... bad? I dunno. I feel weird about it. Still going to give a good reference, but I almost feel manipulative doing it.