To tell this woman what her ex boss has been saying about her?

[LemonTreeSkies]

I am a client of a company. Yesterday the company owner called me to say this woman, who was my preferred person to deal with, is no longer working for them but they will replace her and still offer their usual, wonderful service blah, blah…
He said she left because she found the job too much with having young children as well. This us where I feel he should have left the conversation.
However, when I said I understood her decision but I was sorry because I liked her, liked dealing with her and appreciated the service I received from her, he went on a bit if a rant. He said what he was offering was not a job, but a career. He said she handed her notice in on a Friday of a holiday weekend and that he considered that unprofessional.
He made a few other quips and went on to say that she told another staff member that she just wanted to work from home in her pyjamas. He made his disgust at that quite clear.
I feel that the unprofessional one here is HIM and it made me quite uncomfortable to listen to him badmouth her.
A few years ago this woman’s predecessor “left”. Again, someone else I liked dealing with. He told me the ins and outs of this person’s departure, that he lied to the company owner, and what about etc. As a client I don’t need to know this (it didn’t affect me negatively in any way) and I don’t like the lack of boundaries this company owner seems to have.

Would IBU to contact this woman and tell her what he’s said about her? On one hand I like to live a quiet, peaceful life and don’t want any comeback or drama, but on the other hand I think he’s way out of order and extremely unprofessional (and unpleasant).

Yes you should:

• contact her
• tell her
• find out from her where she is working now
• terminate your contract with her old company and tell them why
• take your business to her new company
• make it clear to her boss at the new company that the reason you moved your business there is because this woman is good

Yes or perhaps you can give her a reference if she wants to move on to something different and freelance

No don't say anything, there's nothing she can do about it and it'll just make her feel like crap, what do you hope to achieve by shit stirring. Also stop using this company 🤷

Excellent suggestion to offer her a client reference.

Can’t believe the number of people on here saying just leave it / don’t tell her etc.

Put yourself in that woman’s position. Would you really not want to know if someone was bad-mouthing you to people in your line of work, potential colleagues or employers?

If if she already knows or doesn’t care, there will be nothing lost by telling her.
If she doesn’t know she is then in a position to take action to stop it.

Can't you escalate it to his superiors that he said this? Surely that would be the most professional approach and also ensure that his behaviour stops?

ZOMBIE THREAD.

I suggest that you let it go!! It serves NOONE except the former boss, and you would be carrying tales that may not be about more than him grousing that he can't keep good workers. He sounds like a twit.

I would give feedback to the boss - over a video call if you can.

I'd keep it focused on the fact that you valued this woman's service. You're disappointed that THEY were unable to retain a valuable member of staff. You want assurance that your service will be handled well in the future, and that they won't lose another member of staff. And that you're concerned that they can't be professional about ex-professional relationships, given your concerns.

Although it covers what you discussed, it also slaps them in the face about how HIS actions have damaged the relationship with YOU. He should have been focused on retaining your business, not slagging her off.