I did a job for my boss today and after an afternoon talking away to the customers ( makes a change as i normally do work in schools in my own all day) i found out that my boss has been doing there plumbing work for years, at the end of the job they said they asked me for my number and now want me to price a bathroom and other bits and pieces for them, i gave them my number now i feel super bad on my boss! should i have given them my number!? What would you guys of done in this situation!?
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Borning post but take a look if you fancy
- Thread starter jackyp1234
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View the thread, titled "Borning post but take a look if you fancy" which is posted in UK Plumbers Forums on UK Plumbers Forums.
A
ADM360
depends how much you like your boss / job!! if your in a small firm everthing gets back to the boss in my experience!! if its larger then probable fine as it not your boss that has personally been in doing the plumbing, but one of his guys like you! when I was on the books I took lots of bits on the side!! sometimes the customer thinks its only a small job and they could save them self a bob by not getting the firm in!!
S
secret squirrel
I think there are two ways of looking at this;
I agree with ADM that they could be trying to save themselves a few quid here and there.
The question is the customers motive of why they approached you directly and not another company if they were not happy with your bosses services.
If I were the boss and got wind of it I would not be at all happy and feel a little insulted, I feel that it is totally fine to do your own jobs but TBH I would look at this as poaching my customer.
If they went to another company fine but they've gone behind my back after doing more than one job, stands to reason that I'd feel the same about my employee.
Sorry, tried to remain neutral but as I re-read my post I've jumped from the fence straight down on perhaps the wrong side.
In the words of Lord Sugar 'your fired' or as soon as I could.... sorry
I agree with ADM that they could be trying to save themselves a few quid here and there.
The question is the customers motive of why they approached you directly and not another company if they were not happy with your bosses services.
If I were the boss and got wind of it I would not be at all happy and feel a little insulted, I feel that it is totally fine to do your own jobs but TBH I would look at this as poaching my customer.
If they went to another company fine but they've gone behind my back after doing more than one job, stands to reason that I'd feel the same about my employee.
Sorry, tried to remain neutral but as I re-read my post I've jumped from the fence straight down on perhaps the wrong side.
In the words of Lord Sugar 'your fired' or as soon as I could.... sorry
yh i guess i just wont answer the phone if they ring, i dont really feel that i am poaching his customers as they asked me, it is a small firm, i dont particularly enjoy working for him but value my job in these tough times also he put me through my time so I wouldn't want him finding out and thinking i was mugging him off! anyway thanks for advice guys, bigger things to worry about...20 tomorrow, half way to 40....scary!±
playing with fire mate, watch you don't get burned
S
secret squirrel
Now, I'd really be upset 20 I dream of being that age again, only knowing what I know now though, to be fair that ain't a lot.......
A
ADM360
Half way to 40 if only!! i'm nearly bl**dy there!! oh to be 20!! no kids. no rent to pay! only beer and chips to be enjoyed at every oppertunity!!!
S
secret squirrel
Mmmmm and kebab, being able to go out til 2am get drunk and then get up in the morning and go to work not feeling too bad............
Now, I can barely move for 3 days.....
haha, hangovers werent that bad in my teens, but now they are getting worse and starting to get the memory loss now aswell and waking up with a feeling of shame lol...think my best partying days are behind me, maybe because I started at an early age
S
shorticus
maybe your boss asked them to ask you...!
A
ADM360
Hadn't thought that deep about it! boss's arn't that bad are they, not had one for a while!! well if you don't count the wife!!!!
S
shorticus
don't get me started about about wives lol
I really don't want to sound patronising or rude (we're all mates here!) but businesses take a shed load of effort, time, cash and risk to get going and if your boss has invested in you and trained you then I reckon it'd be pretty mean to nick one of his customers. Every plumber does private jobs at the weekend, that's one of the perks, but you've gotta get your own reputation going, friends and family to start with then the worlds your oyster lol. Answer the phone when they call just politely decline, as stated previously they're only trying to save a few quid and they certainly wouldn't care if you lost your job as a result...is that any help!?
K
kay-jay
i would take the first opportunity to speak to your boss about it. just say they approached you and you give em your number so as not to upset them. explain that if they do ring, you will do any work at the 'firms' rates and bung it through his books.
S
shorticus
excellent answer kay-jay, all bases covered
At your age experience is key and. Bet going self employed at the mo is a scary thought so you will what to keep your job. Tell your boss straight away that you have got more work and ask how to play it. Both of you don't want to lose this job
A bloke did this on a firm i used to work for got back to him after couple of months then he was told there aint enough work to keep you here,goodbye
L
LegionellaSlave
20 yrs old!
Jesus, I've got socks that old! :frown2:
Jesus, I've got socks that old! :frown2:
would never take from the hand that feeds me for one job, i regualry contract to a local company often get asked for my number now being self employed they can get it off my van etc but i never give it to them and always explain my reasons why, alot of work is better than one quick pay day
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