To take this offer up and p off my employers?

[Ohgoodlord]

I'm a cleaner. I have several clients. I have the opportunity to take on another client. I really want the job. The pay is excellent and the job is great. Only problem is, one of my current clients is in a huge legal dispute with the potential client. They're neighbours. Existing client is lovely and said she obviously knows that she can't stop me taking on new client but that it's a conflict of interest for her and wouldn't feel comfortable with me working there. I can't afford to lose current client, although I doubt she'd actually get rid of me but it would be awkward. Would I be wrong to take new job and upset existing client? I feel so conflicted and between a rock and a hard place.

There are many professions where it would genuinely be a conflict of interest for someone to work for two people who are in dispute, e.g. lawyers. But cleaners don't seem to fit this category at all!

Unless your client actually thinks you would be dishonest enough to pass on info to the neighbour because she leaves paperwork out about the dispute there is no conflict of interest!!!

I would say to her are you saying I would be that indiscreet that I tell other clients what I see in other houses.

Perhaps if she doesn't want you to work there she will pay the hours you would lose out out on.

Unless you are a party to their legal dispute then it's not a conflict of interest.

She may feel that you're being disloyal, but that's an entirely different matter. It's not her job to police your client list.

You need the money more than you need a client to like you.

Take the job.

Tbh your current client shouldn't be telling you such personal information, you're her cleaner not her confidant, and she should resect that you're there to do a job and earn money.

If she has said she wouldn't be comfortable with it, that means she will probably let you go at some point if she finds a good new cleaner. I wouldn't feel very secure in being able to keep her as an employer if you do this, so your choice depends on who you need the most as you probably can't work for them both. The hazards of being self-employed!

Hmmm. I don’t really know who else my cleaner cleans for, although I know a couple because we recommended her. I do not ever hear from her any detail about anyone else’s specific house/lifestyle other than very occasionally when I’ve been away with work and the house is a tip. She always says, don’t worry this house is one of the cleaner ones I look after. I have no idea if she’s being truthful or not.

I find it a little odd that you have knowledge of their legal dispute, because I probably wouldn’t let my cleaner know that detail. In which case you would just be free to start with them and not be any the wiser.

the big question for you is if you were to end up with just one of these clients which would you like it to be?

If you can't afford to lose your current client then I'd be upfront about taking on the new one. Doing it behind their back would reduce trust and they're more likely to get rid of you.

Find it odd they've shared so much detail with you though.

It sounds like you need to choose as I think Client 1 is heavily hinting that if you work for 2 she wont want you any more

I wasn't using the term conflict of interest in any kind of technical or legal way. In my clients mind, there's a conflict.

They trust me implicitly. They don't think I would snoop around for info. That's not the matter at hand.

Why would it be a conflict of interest in their mind?

Thank you. I'm leaning towards taking the job, despite feeling conflicted. I am loyal to my clients and don't want to upset them but I also know that I can't please all of the people all of the time.
No, I'm not their confidant but you'd be surprised at what my clients tell me!

Why did you even ask them about this new job? I’d just take it, you need the money and it’s not your clients business

Well because they're in the midst of a legal battle and lines in the sand have been drawn. A point of principle.

I don't understand why you would have told your current client about this new prospect. It's none of their business.

They trust me implicitly. They don't think I would snoop around for info. That's not the matter at hand

Then why does the current client feel conflicted?

If they trust you implicitly, where's the issue?

What actually IS the matter at hand?

Because IF the matter at hand is simply that current client doesn't want you to work for someone they don't like... then WTAF?

They are way out of line

It's like I'm fratenising with the enemy. They know that they can't dictate to me, they're very nice, professional people but it looks like this is a hill they're prepared to die on.

Then they are way way out of line

Totally unreasonable

I was self employed for years. A good client who trusts you and pays on time is worth their weight in gold. You are risking that.

If you take the neighbour job the neighbour might be a slow payer, difficult, the job not so good. You will have to wait and see.

But it's likely the existing client will let you go. I would. No question.

I've been involved in legal battles between neighbours and they get nasty. The new neighbour may ask you about the existing one - I'm sure you'd be discreet but it would be uncomfortable. And you could easily let something slip.

There'll be other jobs.

(Think if you'd like your cleaner also working for your cheating ex and his new partner>>> maybe easier to understand)

I agree they do but you double bluff them. If they trust you what's their issue?

I agree @whoneedssixteen

I think take the job. Congratulations for getting it! They will understand its business at the end of the day and they sound like they're being petty to lose you like that