Is there a deadline for filling out a reference form? Can I lost my job over it?

[LisaRed19]

Grammar edit *Can I lose my job over it?*

I have been recently hired for a nursing assistant position (yay!!) but it's been a month that I have heard from my hiring manager and I haven't received any update on my application other than asking for my references (HR emailed me that). That was about two weeks after they hired me when they asked for my references and I gave HR the permission. I then notified all three of my references that they should be getting a 'call' soon (that's what I thought until one of my references replied that what they do is send out a 'reference form' to be filled out).

Two more weeks roll by (making it a month at this point and still no word from hiring manager or HR either) and I start asking my 3 references if they have filled out the references form. Two did except for one.... That's when I got freaked out because its past 2 weeks and one of my references (lets call her L) hasn't done it yet. I learned that it was because the email I used from L was a junk email. I started asking L if she can please do it soon but she said her monitor broke down and won't be able to until the following week.

Guys, I'm a little scared that what if this is why I haven't been contacted? Because there is one more reference form left to be filled out. And I'm worried that L will forget or never find it since they had emailed them out 2 weeks ago.

What should I do?

I emailed my hiring manager that if she needs additional documents or if she is having trouble contacting my references to please let me know. Although I didn't mention to her what has been going on lately with L and the junk email/monitor breaking down (I don't want it to sound like excuses). Its been 3 days and no response yet from hiring manager.

**My question is**

Is it possible to lose this job position if the reference forms aren't filled out in time? Should I call HR and explain that L doesn't use that email and give them the one she actually uses?

Any advice is appreciated !

[caliotter3]

While I can not speak for this particular employer, I have been told in the past that reference checking was just a formality. I was hired and proceeded before they even got the reference forms sent out and in another case, they got back the forms from all except one. There were no problems. I would not worry over it. If this is indeed the holdup, they should provide you with the opportunity to provide another reference name. I would be thinking of another name in the meantime. Good luck.