[SprinklerGuy]

That good landscaper that sent me 35k in work the last 4 months asked one of my techs if he wanted a job! ( he just called just now to give me another 200 dollar repair, and he sounded congenial as ever!)

Anyway, the job paid 600 more per month and included truck/phone to take home. Now, this guy is a cocky individual, remember he sold his last company to Tru Green, so he has it on the ball. One of two things happened:

1- He was acting cocky and just bragging, being arrogant and didn't really mean it.

2- Maybe testing the integrity of my employee, or messing with him?

Either way, I don't like it too much, problem is he told my tech not to tell me and of course he did tell me right away.

If I confront this guy will it make me look good because I stick up for myself or will it make me look bad and make the tension grow between him and my employee, both resulting in lost work?

Help!

My gut tells me to take the guy to lunch when I'm in town and tell him how I feel. He is taken care of very well by me...of course...but maybe he wants to make the extra 150k per year????

[Stonehenge]

Hmmm... That's a tough one.

Your employee coming to you is of course a great sign. Staying silent will make this other guy unsure of whether you know or not - if he thinks you don't know, is there an advantage that can be had by that? Can you fish for info? Maybe complain one day about how you hate the biz and on a day like today, if somebody made you an offer, you'd take it. See if that prompts an offer. Then you at least know he wants in. Time to circle the wagons.

In cases like these I've found that it's always best to wait and think before you act. Consider all your options, then do what's best for the business. Forget about pride or personal impressions. The good biz owners I know are scrappers by nature, and will forego pride (like telling someone off) if it means possibly gaining an advantage.

So if you found out today, just sit on it today and think. I'll think, too, and see what my noodle produces...

[diginahole]

A tough question indeed. One that I have had to give some thought in recent months. A member of my trade association is being brought in front of an ethics commitee to review his membership for soliciting another members employees, and for other questions of ethics.

Personally I do see predatory hiring as unethical. However, in general I think that our employees are fair game to other employers. It is our responsibility to create a working environment that attracts, nurtures and retains good workers. It is the same thing with attracting clientele, there is a fine line between ethical marketing and predatory solicitation.

Keeping the communications open with your employees is the best defence against loosing them to the competition. Unfortunately it is not foolproof. Good luck.

I don't know anything about the relationship you currently have with this landscape contractor so I need to ask, is it a mutually benificial relationship? Are you returning the favour in some way? Whether his actions are right or wrong this could be providing the motive. This isn't a relationship I would be in a hurry to sever. Take some time and find out what has motivated these actions and try to pull it back out of the fire. Again, good luck.

[Stonehenge]

Tony - do you have any updates for us? I'd be interested to hear if anything new has developed.