Conflict of interest

[itsanothernamechangeagain]

Hi

Hoping for some advice.
Met my partner at work. We've been together a few years.

Private relationship. Not known in our place of work.

Neither of us socialise with work.

Partner moves. He's at this point very senior to me. I'm still in the same position.

He goes to work for a competitor.

I'm still in the same position. He's really high up.

Can I be sacked for conflict of interest?

(We don't talk about work, it just doesn't come up).

Unless you work for MI5 and he's gone to work for the FSB, you should be fine.

Haha neither of us do.

My work absolutely hate him.

As he's very very good at what he does. It's a big blow to them.

We didn't say anything at the time as we are both really private.

He's doing really really well.

I know they will want to get rid of me because of what my partner does.

I've worked there five years plus.

If they sacked you on this basis it would probably be an unfair dismissal.

After 5 years isn't it about time you applied for promotion/another job anyway?

Probably. I'm quite comfortable at present.
Good hours. Customers, wfh ratio,
Commission etc.

I could apply and get a
Promotion but the pay rise I could get vs the new job I could get wouldnt be worth it to me at present in my life. I could get more
Money and a promotion but the money I would get for that wouldn't change my life at all whereas the new Role would change my life. Childcare, etc etc.

So whilst I could get more in the bank,
It wouldn't be a life changing amount but if
I took the step up the role would be life changing as in less time at home etc.

I'm good working at this level and getting a reflective bonus annually. If that changes,
I will prob take the next step up.

For now, I'm lucky enough to be able to choose.

As long as you each respect your firm's confidentiality, and don't share information, there's LESS conflict of interest now than when you worked at the same firm!

Unless you are a spy or work in say R&D it is not really that big an issue. Even if you work in those fields, you just need to ensure that you do not discuss work, projects you are working on, leave work papers/documents where the other could read them etc so there are no issues or potential issues of you being accused of passing 'trade secrets' to a competitor and vice versa.

I hope you aren't a spy... as you failed the namechanging!

(Report your post- MNHQ will tidy it up for you )