Business Ethics Question

[Snakelover]

I think this is how this will play out. I told him the whole situation and why I was trying to do right by him and my employee. He said he completely understood and ensured me that the employee's name would never come up.

I can understand why this was a dilemma. For what it's worth, I think you did the right thing.

[Drycreek3189]

LoL unless you went into a completely unrelated industry than what you were employed to do, you bright along some sort of intellectual property from your previous employer.

If your barber didnt own the shop he cut your hair in and decided to change shops and he brought you along with him is he a "thief" because he took customers from his previous shop?

If he solicited those customers while taking his employer's money, yes he is. If he quit, opened his own shop and these customers want to use him, then that's their business. I've been through this twice, and each time made a clean break, with my employer in one instance, with a partner in another, and they knew before any potential customers knew. I've also had the same thing happen to me. In this case, a lady worked in our office until her husband decided he would get rich in the oilfield, so she left with our customer list. How I know this is because "my" customers were the first companies they contacted. It didn't hurt me, because their work was sub-par, but it was unethical at the least.

If you don't know what ethics are, I'm afraid I can't explain it to you.

[dustoffer]

Integrity is doing the right thing when no one is watching you--or you don't think anyone is watching. It is NOT doing whatever you think you can get away with. Applies in business, in hunting and fishing (It's only a minute past legal shooting light, or he's close enough to making antler spread, or the trout is only a quarter-inch short), and every part of life, whether it is faithfulness in marriage, your promise to do or not to do (they'll never find out). As one of my former army bosses told me, if you can't believe the lieutenant actually checked the ??? then would you believe he registered the mortars accurately? Can't make it any plainer than that.

And, I completely believe the OP did the right thing. Relationships are based on trust--both ways.

[bermise]

There are no ethics when it comes to competitors. All sales type business involving clients is cut throat and always will be. No one owns "their customer". A large majority of business owners used their prior contacts to start their new business.

[bdchorn]

There are no ethics when it comes to competitors. All sales type business involving clients is cut throat and always will be. No one owns "their customer". A large majority of business owners used their prior contacts to start their new business.

I've been in sales for 25 years and couldn't possibly disagree more. There's fierce competition and there are certainly those that will lie, cheat and steal but the companies and people that thrive ALWAYS have a moral compass and ethical lines they simply wont cross no matter the circumstanes

[Charles]

I've been in sales for 25 years and couldn't possibly disagree more. There's fierce competition and there are certainly those that will lie, cheat and steal but the companies and people that thrive ALWAYS have a moral compass and ethical lines they simply wont cross no matter the circumstanes

Amen

[Dale Moser]

Tell him!


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[Codie]

You did right by telling "John"

I think you need to talk to "Tom" as well because I have a feeling "Tom" will probably be recruited by "Bill" for the new company if he is close enough to him to divulge his new business venture in confidence.

[GarGuy]

You clearly did the right thing.. i would bet tom (or Tomette) knew you would do just that or you would never have known the plan. Tom was in the same delima you was in and made exactly the same decision. Good employee doing the right thing.

[Hart8]

My gut is telling me to call my customer because I think he would call me if the roles were reversed. However, I believe my employee told me in confidence not knowing the relationship.

I'd give him a heads up,without a doubt.

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[charles7212]

I would let him know.

[MBV77]

I'd give your customer a heads up. If he finds out later that you knew and didn't tell him he probably won't be your customer anymore. The guy is a thief stealing someone else's business.

How is he a thief? Tons of folks work for companies before they break out on their own doing the same thing and become direct competitors. If the guy can better his life by doing it in his own then more power to him. I wouldn't be running my mouth about it though until I was ready to make a move.


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[TacticalCowboy]

Do what's in your best interest.

[J.B.]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hU9-Xskz4PU"]Business Ethics from Billy Madison - YouTube[/ame]

[tigerscowboy]

It's obvious to me what would be "the right thing to do" here. I'll cut anyone who is not loyal to their employer and inform business friends & customers of any known action that is unacceptable to us and then let them decide if it's unacceptable as well.