[paul middleton]

Does Anybody worry about employees stealing customers?

I have a guy who has worked for me for 3 years and wants to set up on his own.

[Craig - CW Window Cleaning]

I shouldnt worry too much he'll probably do his own route.

[George P]

at least hes told you and not just left you

[paul middleton]

Its just that he nose sum of the customers better than me

[Jackal]

it is a worry i suppose but he has told you so cant see him trying it on

[paul middleton]

There is that

[windiewasher]

knock him out if he does or have a hit om him!

There is that

[George P]

is he on contract where he cannot take any customers in an area of say ----- amount of miles

[Crystal-clear]

is he on contract where he cannot take any customers in an area of say ----- amount of miles

If he was would it be enforced?

[George P]

depends on wheater you follow it up

[Simon@ Clearview contractors]

It's called a restrictive covenant, quite hard to enforce in our line of business, however, a strongly worded one drawn up by a brief may just put the frightners on enough to put him off even trying it.

IMHO, as previously said, I wouldn't have thought he has any pre-meditated plan to rip you off if he's gone and told you what he plans to do.

[paul middleton]

is he on contract where he cannot take any customers in an area of say ----- amount of miles

He has got a clause in his contract that states he cant take any customers in the first two years but taking it to court would be very expensive!

[Blue Frog Systems]

It seems he's ok seen as though he has told you what he wants to do.

If i was in your position i would keep him onside. You could offer him part time till his round is to a certain level... then you wouldnt have to employ him. Plus you would be able to see how he is getting on 

[Johnny B]

Have you asked him where he is looking for work? Maybe you could offer him a few of your customers to get him started.

If you help him out a little, you may find that he will appreciate that and not try to put you of business. Depends on how well you know him and how much he can be trusted.

Just a question though, how come he knows some of your customers better than you do?

John

[G Griffin]

I agree with the last 2 posts. Talk to him, see what his plans are and offer to help him set up. He might be more likely to start a round elsewhere then.
But if he`s intent on taking some of your customers, there`s not a lot you can do.
You could try and have more contact with these customers. You might get a feel for what he plans to do and it lets the customers know who is in charge. 

[Craig 72]

I'm nowhere near the stage of needing to employ somebody but if I did this would be the worry for me.Unless it is a family member or close friend who's totally trusted I think people would be too tempted to take the customers on their own.On the flip side,if I had been doing a customers windows for years and being paid a tenner for a job that I know is worth 15 or 20,it would become a bit galling.Especially if,like you say,I knew the customer better than my employer did.Legally,surely,you don't have a leg to stand on.Tricky one.

[dazmond]

i bought a small round off a window cleaner i worked for  in the early nineties.he d not cleaned them for 3 months and i had to get rid of a days works as it was on a very dodgy estate and i was worried about getting mugged while collecting!i think he thought it would put me off working for myself as he didnt want me to leave him as i was such a good worker!

17 years later ive never canvassed any of his areas and i have built a good solid round.



dazmond

[the bfg]

there is a w/c near me who worked for another w/c before he went it alone and he targeted a load of the other w/cs work and got it.

he told me he was treated like a dog while he worked for the other w/c and was paid £6-50 ph  and was doing all the ladder work.

he said the final straw was when he was left to do a full internal/external clean on a large house including fascia and gutters,    said the job was a cash job ( £200 )   and said the other w/c arrived about 10 mins from him finishing and when he got paid the owner gave him an extra £50 for a great job done and he said he never gave him a penny out of it.


have seen the other w/c a few times since and he seems to have a different bloke with him every time.

[paul middleton]

Have you asked him where he is looking for work? Maybe you could offer him a few of your customers to get him started.

If you help him out a little, you may find that he will appreciate that and not try to put you of business. Depends on how well you know him and how much he can be trusted.

Just a question though, how come he knows some of your customers better than you do?

John

i work in the bag van with one employee and the other employee works in the smaller van on his own, the big van does all the big houses and the smaller van does the small houses, its swapped around a bit here and there but we partly stick to the same houses for speed and therefore more work done, rather than trying to find houses you dont know etc.

I do trust him but always have a doubt in the back of my mind as at the end of the day it is my livelyhood!!

[careless.david@gmail.com]

Would it be an option to sell him some of your round that you think you may lose & avoid a total loss ?