Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

to pass on extremely hot lead to company i am moving to..

36 replies

DireLemma · 19/05/2011 11:26

Waiting to agree package and havent signed contract or put in resignation yet in existing company.
Was headhunted for new job. 99.9% sure they wont change their minds.

Industry is construction related.

I have just had an update from potential customer that they are looking favourably on 2 big projects that i priced for them. (and it is a major high street name that I know would lead to a lot of new business)

New company uses same manufacturer and installers as existing one (subcontracts out) but is newer to the scene, and has dynamic go getting boss, who if I passed the costings and details on before starting I think would have an excellent chance of pinching this job. Part of me getting the job is the contacts and leads i can bring with me anyway.

If i had given in my notice and had an agreed contract etc I probably would have no qualms about this - rightly or wrongly....

But should I risk it?

OP posts:

BelovedCunt · 19/05/2011 11:28

GollyHolightly · 19/05/2011 11:31

Risky. What if the new company think you're untrustworthy because you're shafting the place that's currently employing you?

It's a bit like getting into a relationship with someone who's already got a partner. They'll probably do the same to you eventually.

LadyThumb · 19/05/2011 11:32

NO! If you give the new employer the leads, how do they know they can trust you in the future?

ginnny · 19/05/2011 11:34

No. Its unethical.
It won't make you look good - just ruthless and untrustworthy.

BitOfFun · 19/05/2011 11:34

Can't you intimate that you have some good leads, but need to sign a contract with them in order to pass them on?

Lucyinthepie · 19/05/2011 11:34

Go and read The Power of Ethical Management, it doesn't take long, and don't do it. It would also be wrong to do it if you had given notice and agreed a new contract. You sourced the new customer and quoted for them while working with your current employers.

Original poster

DireLemma · 19/05/2011 11:35

Yes I know, but from experience in my particular area, when people move they always take lots of information with them, and will try and bring over customers they had at the old place. It is normal and expected.
Risky is the thing - because if for any reason they dont offer me (had informal interview last week and waiting for package to be agreed with 2 partners - i only met one of them) I will have lost this big job for the company i will end up still working for! (although I am sure I will go to new company)

OP posts:

Original poster

DireLemma · 19/05/2011 11:36

replies posted while i was typing - let me read them

OP posts:

AMumInScotland · 19/05/2011 11:36

No - you will be giving your new boss the clear impression that you have no professional integrity. He may be happy for a few months with the contract, but then he will start having doubts about you, and not want to trust you with important stuff.

Are you sure you aren't letting yourself in for problems with your old work bringing their contacts and leads with you anyway? I've had contracts which were very clear about conduct when you left to go to a direct competitor, and they would have left me open to legal action if I had done that.

Lucyinthepie · 19/05/2011 11:37

"Can't you intimate that you have some good leads, but need to sign a contract with them in order to pass them on?"
If you do that then maybe you will discover that the company you plan to go to will visualise themselves in the situation your current employer is in now - and decide they don't want you after all.

Original poster

DireLemma · 19/05/2011 11:39

I know it will make me seem ruthless - that is part of the job
Untrustworthy - yes possibly - its just that i am a bit gutted because i have never had such a good prospect that is very high value before - if i started with new company with a couple of high value sales it would be excellent.

Will look up the Power of Ethical management.

I can see it is unethical... just severely tempted for selfish reasons.

OP posts:

Original poster

DireLemma · 19/05/2011 11:42

As far as bringing old contacts and leads with me - well if i have a business relationship with someone, I dont see a problem with contactign them saying that i have moved to xxx company now, and here is our info, and if I can price anything up for you please let me know.

There is also nothing in my existing contract about this.

OP posts:

AMumInScotland · 19/05/2011 11:43

If the ethical part doesn't worry you, try focussing on the "bad for me in the slightly longer term (selfish) reason"

MainlyMaynie · 19/05/2011 11:44

I'd tell the new company that you need a written contract ASAP as obviously ethically you would not wish to do anything to undermine your current employer. Then as soon as you've got the written contract, I would tell the potential customer that you are moving companies and that the new company supplies the same service. Then it's up to the customer whether they want to talk to your new company.

ajandjjmum · 19/05/2011 11:46

It's just wrong.

Your existing employer is still paying you.

Don't be tempted. What goes round comes round, and this would come back and bite you.

AppleyEverAfter · 19/05/2011 11:46

Oh I thought you meant 'hot lead' as in the metal! I was intrigued about how you would do this without burning your fingers.

But now I understand, I would say leave it until you've moved properly. Can you put the customer off for a bit?

ShirleyKnot · 19/05/2011 11:46

YABU

Original poster

DireLemma · 19/05/2011 11:50

I think i am getting the mumsnet message not to do it...

I guess if I had no qualms about it at all I wouldnt have asked would I?

Hmmmm - gutting that my biggest sale will be just as i am leaving though!

OP posts:

MrSpoc · 19/05/2011 11:51

Going against the grain here. I am in a similar type of business and it is accepted that when you take on a certain type of role that you will bring with you contacts leads etc. (Puchasing manager taking suppliers with them etc).

You could ring the new employeer and say look here is a little heads up I have had a call from X about them looking for Y. Just thought you should know.

The New Employer will think bonus this is worth alot to the business and if Op can do this then imagine what else she can bring to the table.

What i would be careful off though is if you have a restricted covenant inplace.

Good luck

MrSpoc · 19/05/2011 11:52

DireLemma - I bet you wont even get commission for your biggest sale either. Just do it. there is no Ethical business. Its just businessand the best, most ruthless does best.

GollyHolightly · 19/05/2011 11:53

I think that if what it takes to succeed is to be unethical, immoral and scramble over everyone else, then you should do it. It seems to me that the most successful business types are also the ones that don't really give a shit about those they trample on to get there, so knock yourself out!

HerHissyness · 19/05/2011 11:54

Surely if you brought a deal in before you handed in your notice, you would still be earning the commission on it?

Is the customer buying YOU, i.e are you an integral part of the management/follow through of this project, or are you just 'flogging the gear' if you know what I mean?

If the customer is buying you as it were, then this could influence their decision, ie. that they want your expertise, safe pair of hands etc and you are leaving.

Check your Contract terms, it may be that you have an exclusion period, and that even if you were to sneak the sale over, the legwork would be your previous employer's. The could technically sue you for breach of contract, and barristers in this arena are hugely expensive. On a case like this, I doubt you'd have a prayer in court.

ShirleyKnot · 19/05/2011 11:54

MrSpoc - you sound like an Apprentice.

ajandjjmum · 19/05/2011 11:55

If I was the person who had given the enquiry to DireLemma, I would be extremely reluctant to follow her to her new company, when I had specifically made the enquiry of her old - unless it was handled very very carefully.

If the contract is so huge, would the sale be going through within a month?

ohdoone · 19/05/2011 11:58

Don't do it untill you have read your current contract to see if there is any rules about it. There probably is and you'd be a fool to break them, if your current company is anything like mine they'd find out a sue the arse off you and possibly take out an injuction (I think its an injuction anyway) against your new company stoping them from either doing the buisness or getting paid for it.

Flip

1 2