Background: I own a small business and employ about 4 people who work under me. I started my business about 6 years ago, and about 5 years ago my first "employee" was an ex-co worker from my previous job. We (stupidly) became friends over the course of her time working together in my company. Things started getting rocky between us about a year ago on both a professional and personal level. In March, she handed in her notice BUT 1) via text message and 2) also said she was taking one of my clients "with her". She also approached another one of my clients about the possibility of taking them too. I got a lawyer, wrote her a letter (well the lawyer did but from me so it wasn't perceived to be too aggressive) as its in her contract that she can't do it. To keep things smooth, I also "gave" her the client she wanted to take with no penalty. She maintained though out this whole ordeal that she had done nothing wrong, despite what her contract stated. She couldn't understand why I got a lawyer, and as a result cut her notice period by 2 weeks, leaving me scrambling to get her replacement to start earlier and also left my clients in the lurch for 2 weeks. Still, it was all my fault because I was being "too difficult" to work with. I only saw her once after she handed in her notice and as we were with clients I maintained progressional dignity so clients couldn't pick up that anything was wrong.
We had all (myself, her, and 2 other employees) booked a trip to a huge conference overseas for a week. Upon this whole saga happening, I cancelled her out of our hotel room. Of course I WBU and "mean and horrible" to do this.
This week we have been at said conference. Ex-friend/employee had booked her own room within the same hotel. My 2 employees are staying with me. Apparently, she met with them last night for drinks and said she has been spending all her time in her room crying and has come to realize just how horrible a person I am to do this to someone. She maintains all she did was hand in her notice and does not deserve to be treated like this. One of the girls told me after as she felt uncomfortable with it. I have said nothing to ex-employee or anyone else as I am just trying to keep professional about it. AIBU or horrible to have excluded ex-friend/employee from this trip? I will say now I realize this is all a bigger mess because I did engage in a friendship with her and have learned my lesson, so don't need to be told that!
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AIBU?
To not have included an ex-co-worker
44 replies
allisgood1 · 25/05/2014 21:36
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