Business Ethics Question

[texansfan]

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.

If you have any of your previous employers customers on your roll then by your definition you are stealing.

Half my current clients are from previous employers and the other half are from word of mouth of the first half.

My employer decided to not do any more medical analyses and put full focus on business/marketing analyses.
I love medical analysis so 90% of my preferred workload for shifted to 100% market analysis which I can do (very well) is just my heart isn't into it as much as medical analysis.

So after a year I finally decided to call it quits then figure out what I was gonna do. Somehow an old client from my previous employer find my personal email and reached out to me to ask if I could help them with a quick analysis (in Friday night at 600pm needed to be completed by Sunday 600pm).

I did it and the rest is history.
More work than I can shake a stick at.

But yeah, I s what you're saying. I just don't agree.

[ShoootLow]

Explain how he's a thief. I agree I would give my customer a heads up. But the other guy is free to start up his own company if he wants, not sure how it makes him a thief. If the customers decide to choose his new business over the current one good for him.

You assume there is not a no-compete or confidentiality clause in his contract or employment agreement?

[Drycreek3189]

I have been in retail sales for 15 years and own my business. I have competition all around me 5 days a week. I have been fortunate enough to hold my own against the other guys. I have been in situations many a times where I could take advantage of someone, however I will not and cannot. It has happened to me and cost me thousands of dollars out my pocket.
I take care of my customers and provide them with the best customer service available, I will warranty products at times that have no warranty and take the hit for a good customer as I will get it back in the long run. When you have repeat customers for 15 years and start selling to their children or grand children all cant be wrong. So there is ethics in MY business.

Exactly ! If I had wanted to be a crook, I could have been rich. Instead, I was honest and just made a good living.

[Drycreek3189]

If you have any of your previous employers customers on your roll then by your definition you are stealing.

Half my current clients are from previous employers and the other half are from word of mouth of the first half.

My employer decided to not do any more medical analyses and put full focus on business/marketing analyses.
I love medical analysis so 90% of my preferred workload for shifted to 100% market analysis which I can do (very well) is just my heart isn't into it as much as medical analysis.

So after a year I finally decided to call it quits then figure out what I was gonna do. Somehow an old client from my previous employer find my personal email and reached out to me to ask if I could help them with a quick analysis (in Friday night at 600pm needed to be completed by Sunday 600pm).

I did it and the rest is history.
More work than I can shake a stick at.

But yeah, I s what you're saying. I just don't agree.

He came to you, that ain't stealing. My customers did the same. My conscience is clear.

[SwampRabbit]

It is important to know what the standards of business conduct are for your company. Your boss clearly set the tone for what that is. It is up to you to decide if those match your moral compass and the standards of conduct you personally hold for your employer. Alot of violations of standards conduct happen because of family and friendships creating a conflict of interest.

I will say, you are not wrong for questioning this situation. It is my opinion that you most likely violated a commonly accepted standard for business conduct for most very large, publicly traded companies. I say likely, because there is some missing information here... but at a minimum, you didn't pass the headline test or the golden rule test in my book.

[meltingfeather]

Question...do I call my friend up and let him know that his employee is positioning himself to be a competitor in the near future? [...]

Suggestions?

Absolutely follow your gut and let the guy know. You'd want to know and he will appreciate it. You're playing the long game.
Whether or not to divulge your source is a little murkier and situation dependent.

[Gunner97]

I would let him know.

[Sideler]

Am I the only one seeing Bill as a new customer?

I would have sent John an anonymous letter informing him of Bill's intent. John gets the information he needs, no one gets their feelings hurt, and I gain a potential new customer.

[Briar Friar]

Honesty all the way around. Tell the customer the deal. Tell the employee why the deal aint right. Tell the customers employee if necessary to take their deal and shove it where the sun aint shining. If your employee/friend is worth a ****...they will understand why you told and wont consider the customers employee to be worthy of friendship. The employee prolly told you because they wanted someone to know because they thought it unethical in the first place...bet my left testicle.

[Ksbowhunter]

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.

^^^^ this

[helibow]

How would you want that same customer to respond if the scenario was reversed... it was your employee making a new competing company and he knew about it. Would you expect him to tell you? Your own internal morals and ethics will solve this. If you would expect him to honor the business relationship you have then I would suggest you tell him.