Ex member of staff contacting our clients and workforce

lincroft1710 · 22 November 2013 at 7:13PM

cavework wrote: »

We are being very patient but where do we draw the line and can we stop this?

Why are you even concerned about this, not that you can do anything about it? Headhunting and poaching clients are not illegal. She's had no takers from clients or current and former employees.

I'll give odds on her new employers will shortly be letting her go.

cavework · 22 November 2013 at 7:20PM

Last post but time it was said..
The employer employee war needs to stop. the employee needs to understand totally how much it now costs to employ someone. The government may well reduce tax to the employee but they also increase the NI contributions for the employer each time they reduce your tax bill . Thats why your wages stay stagnant
The living wage is a great idea but where is the employer meant to find the difference? My clients don't want to pay more as they are also being squeezed
Incentives for taking unemployed do not mean you get the best person for the job , those newly unemployed are let down by this system
The VAT stays the same at 20% .. no help for small businesses and cash flow problems just make the banks richer and richer.

cavework · 22 November 2013 at 7:26PM

lincroft1710 wrote: »

Why are you even concerned about this, not that you can do anything about it? Headhunting and poaching clients are not illegal. She's had no takers from clients or current and former employees.

I'll give odds on her new employers will shortly be letting her go.

Think you are right. we are a small business and we have always been up front and honest with our staff , even those who have left have kept in touch, Hopefully we have always been fair ..
Hopefully she will run out of steam quite soon
Thanks
:T

cavework · 22 November 2013 at 7:31PM

spacey2012 wrote: »

Probably because when people leave you wish them all the best, not try to destroy them because they do not want to work for you any more.

What?.. we have tried to destroy no one ..go wave your flag somewhere else because you have not read any of my posts properly.

PlutoinCapricorn · 22 November 2013 at 8:10PM

You are well rid of this person, who incidentally has done you the favour of showing you who your friends are.

The behaviour may not be illegal, but it is certainly unethical. Decent people would let their contacts know what their new job is then wait to be contacted.

If you had been a bad employer, some of your employees might have enjoyed kicking you in the teeth by leaving.

paddyrg · 22 November 2013 at 11:24PM

Maybe some staff or clients will leave, they have a right to although trying to poach them is crappy. All you have to do though is to get a few crates of champagne this Christmas for your staff and clients who've stayed. Tell the staff in your Christmas meeting that you know they were approached, and appreciate them sticking with you for not just the holiday etc but also you hope it's because they are happy with their colleagues etc. Give them a reminder that you offer stability etc.

Clients, send them champagne and a note saying you're aware they have a choice, and are glad they chose to such with you for your experience/track record/excellent service/whatever your key features are, and that you're looking forward to working with them in the future.

Amatheya81 · 22 November 2013 at 11:58PM

The situation is awkward and unpleasant and as many have said it is a pretty unethical way for her to react but as you have not placed anything in your contracts to prevent her from contacting your clients there isn't much you can do except wait for her to move on.

The only thing I would be concerned with is how she got a list of all your clients. Is it possible that during her notice she stole contact details? If so this is a breach of Data Protection and most definitely against the law.

PlutoinCapricorn · 23 November 2013 at 9:42AM

"We are being very patient but where do we draw the line and can we stop this?"

Give her enough rope...let her do her worst, it seems to be backfiring.

What does it say about you that you have loyal, sensible staff and clients?

BobQ · 23 November 2013 at 11:19AM

Has the ex-employee been contacting your staff using contact details they gave the ex-employee? If so that is their private business. If your ex-employee had access to personal contact details through her job and has stolen these details you might have a legal claim.

Mistral001 · 23 November 2013 at 11:47AM

Some clients might be prepared to follow an employee when that employee moves to another firm, if that employee is good. This does not appear to be the situation so the OP probably has little to worry about.