Professional Help
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- trance
I've just left this design company that I worked for, and one of their clients contacted me and wants his business card and possibly website done.
My question is, should I be allowed to work for him ? Is that considered stealing clients ?
- jevad0
Question is - why does he want to work thru you and not the company?
how did you part ways with the company - is there the prospect of freelance work from them?
- trance0
He probably wants to go through me as opposed to the company because he knows that it'll cost him less money.
I gave him my card a while back when we had a drink, and recently he heard about my departure so he contacted me.
I left the company because I wanted to work freelance and not contract.
- jevad0
I would say go for it - what they don't know can't hurt them.
Then there is also the school of thought that goes it would be better not to burn bridges - so tell your work whats happening - especially if you left on good terms and have good ocntacts there.
If not - then don't bother!!
- ********0
Check your origonal contract with the company - I know mine states that I can't do any work for any of the companies' clients until 12 months after leaving. Or even speak to them come to think of it.
- jevad0
What does that matter after you've left?!
- gabriel20
yeah, definitely go over your employment agreement. often times they'll have a period of time where you can't do work for the agency's clients. it's pretty common nowadays and can allow the agency to sue you for money lost.
- stewart0
read your contract again.
- jevad0
"it's pretty common nowadays and can allow the agency to sue you for money lost."
no shit? wow....I don;t think I've ever had to deal with anything like that...it would be enough to make me not want to work somewhere....
- gabriel20
jevad, yeah it's pretty lame but I've been seeing it more and more. it mostly depends on the size of the agency.
- blaw0
just wanted to chime in on the employment agreement issue. i'm under one here and wouldn't be able do work for one of our clients for 12 months after leaving.
- monkeyshine0
This is very common practice and it's not lame at all. Think about it. If you had your own business you wouldn't want a designer to walk away with one or more of your clients.
- p-mac0
Non-compete agreements are very common in a design studio. Check your contract.