Taboo???

WNYcarpenter

What are some of your views about employees leaving to work for a competitor?

I think of myself as a loyal employee, but the owners are bent on selling the company (within the next 5-10 years). So much so it appears that's their main focus. There are leadership issues I believe that are being ignored, attention to detail is faltering and moral is declining.

There's a contractor who's up and coming, ambitious, and is in need of experienced carpenters. He's bidding on some of the same projects, but our company has the better reputation, strength, and experience etc...

The competitor is my age and his Uncle is our designer. The grass is always greener, but I can envision a future with this guy even if his pay and benefits aren't as good right now.

I'd like to talk to him and work out a deal, but I don't want to burn any bridges...all-in-all my current employers have treated me well and I have an obligation to them, but my future is important also. I'm not ready to go on my own, or to buy out my current employer, and I think I would be a huge asset to someone trying to get established.

Working for the competitor is taboo, but for me it could be a wise decision. I'd appreciate any input...one liners are cool too....Jerks

Chris Johnson

Sounds like a good way to black ball yourself. I'm in a small town, and the respectable contractors don't steal or otherwise hire between each other. You see the current company going downhill, but you also have some impact on that, your attitude and hard work can prevent that from being seen on the outside. Who knows in 5-10 years when they do sell you may be ready to own the company or venture out on your own.

Sounds like a little bit of conflict of interest if the new guys Uncle is your designer...is he passing info to his nephew? Would you want to be attached to that?

__________________
Chris

Shamrock

The way I see it, if your present employers cannot provide you with long term job security, opportunitys for advancement and solid leadership, then it's their loss if you seek those things elsewhere. Personally I'd first have a sit down with the boss and explain my concerns...you never know...the opportunity's may be better in your present position.

220/221

So....how do you fit into this equation?



Hey....you asked for it.


I'd do what this guy said:


Remember, your employer desn't OWN you. You simply have a contract to work for him @ x dollars an hour for x hours a week. You only owe him the courtesy of an appropriate notice of your intentions and possibly a conersation about your thoughts/plans.

WNYcarpenter

You're absolutely correct, in this town contractors' kids go to the same schools, know each other, and often times will not hire anyone from a competitor.

This "new guy" has a good relationship with my current company. We all know him. Our designer does drawings for him (for a price) and we bring in enough work that for now he's a friend of the company. I can see a possible conflict down the road, but honestly, the way I perceive the attitude of the current owners is they're leaving a part of that up to the new owners.

Four of us are meeting with the owners sometime in the near future with their lawyer and accountant to discuss a buyout. For me realistically, I'd like to be self employed, but I'm not ready. The current situation is not something I'd like to weather out for another 5 years. Buying the company sounds more unrealistic...being a lead for the new guy and becoming a PM or partner in 5-10 years seems a better bet to me.

WNYcarpenter

220/221...I can't argue about fitting into the equation! There's a risk with everything.

I care enough about what I do to spend my free time here...IMO that should say something about my character. I can't hold a candle to most of you guys, but I'm dedicated!

wackman

I learned over the years that the best way to get the job and pay rate you desire and deserve is to change jobs. I've always been in major metropolitan areas (Seattle and Portland) so it may well be very different from a small town.

I'd get hired and hear "in 6 months you'll get a raise and we have some projects coming up where we want you to be the sup". Then 6 months comes and goes, no raise. You find out nobody gets it. They give the sup job to the guy that brings them mochas every morning and goes to the bar with them after work, etc... not my style.

So I would go ask for my raise and if they said no I would give my two weeks right then and there. To do that I had to have a new job, so before I asked for my raise I went and got a new job making what I wanted to make. Sometimes I disliked my current situation enough that I just gave my notice and went with the new job. Most times I got the raise without giving notice but when I did they sweated a little and always ended up giving it to me. To many employers seem to think that once they got you, you're theirs.

I'm here to make money and provide for my family, not make friends. You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours because I'm only as loyal to you as you are to me.

Wack

CaliDesigns

The first rule of life, is self preservation.

L. B. Condulet

What kind of nuttiness is this? The alternative is to work for your boss for the rest of your life.