left job, employers harrasing me
left job, employers harrasing me
Author
Discussion

K321

Original Poster:

4,127 posts

247 months

Thursday 16th June 2011
quotequote all
i left my job 10 days ago. I resigned, and worked my notice period. I did not say where i was going except that i had some job offers but was undecided where i was going.i left on good terms, got a card and presents and all the usual fanfare. I then received a voice message from my previous employer director, who thinks he has seen my car at a rival company, and has said he will come after me if he thinks ive passed over customer info, The message is threatening and menacing . Today i receive 10 other calls from various people at my previous employee leaving threatening messages. I finally spoke to the guy on the phone and he has said he will show his 'bad side' to me if he thinks there are any leaks in customer info. I know of at least 2 employers who are moving to the rival company within months, and asked him to expand on what he means by 'coming after me' he then says hes been in prison and was a bad person but if he suspects i pass info over and he loses money he will 'do me'.
i told him his messages are threatening and he said even if i phoned the police he would only get a warning but that he would send his 'people' to come after me if he suspects customer leakage. The 2 companies share customers, so the rival company could get the other business regardless?
i am thinking of changing phone/house/car....any advice?

Edited by K321 on Thursday 16th June 00:55

Badabing

446 posts

235 months

Thursday 16th June 2011
quotequote all
Your ex boss and ten other 'ex employees' have left threatning messages on your phone? Perhaps the drug distribution business isn't for you sir.

What line of work gets you in so much grief?

hidetheelephants

35,702 posts

222 months

Thursday 16th June 2011
quotequote all
Police and a restraining order in that order. Oh yes, and subscribe this cretin to some gay porn mags, especially if he has a secretary that opens the mail.

pokethepope

2,667 posts

217 months

Thursday 16th June 2011
quotequote all
You have 'employee' and 'employer' mixed up.


HTH.

Badabing

446 posts

235 months

Thursday 16th June 2011
quotequote all
You dished up food in a Kebab van?

rog007

5,828 posts

253 months

Thursday 16th June 2011
quotequote all
Assuming there are no contractual issues and you are behaving in an ethical manner...CALL THE POLICE NOW! Good luck, and do keep us posted.

Fer

7,773 posts

309 months

Thursday 16th June 2011
quotequote all
It does sound a little "Ice Cream Wars", but I hope you get it sorted.

zaphod42

59,247 posts

184 months

Thursday 16th June 2011
quotequote all
Keep the voicemails.

Call the police.

You may choose to inform your employer, but that is your choice (in case they get anonymous info sent to them about you)

You may wish to seek a restraining order. Not necessarily expensive. You could call the Citizen Advice Bureau, and maybe the ACAS helpline as they will provide free advice to complex employment situations.

K321

Original Poster:

4,127 posts

247 months

Thursday 16th June 2011
quotequote all
i have been contacted today twice from the owner of my previous employer asking me to contact him back. i am going to ignore his message, change my phone number. i did not work in the distribution business, or kebab etc, i worked in a private sector normal legit business.
i have not broken any contract, i dont need to tell my previous employer where i am working do I?

zaphod42

59,247 posts

184 months

Thursday 16th June 2011
quotequote all
Firstly, have you followed any of the advice given by previous posters?

Secondly, keep a note of all contact. Start a paper file. Write everything down whilst it is fresh. no emotions, just the facts of what was said. Again, whilst it is fresh.

And no, you don't need to tell your former employer where you have gone.

K321

Original Poster:

4,127 posts

247 months

Thursday 16th June 2011
quotequote all
i have kept all voice messages on record, saved

Badabing

446 posts

235 months

Thursday 16th June 2011
quotequote all
K321 said:
i have been contacted today twice from the owner of my previous employer asking me to contact him back. i am going to ignore his message, change my phone number. i did not work in the distribution business, or kebab etc, i worked in a private sector normal legit business.
i have not broken any contract, i dont need to tell my previous employer where i am working do I?
Don't be silly, of course I know you're not a dealer. This is the sort of behaviour you'd expect if you were into something dodgey or a kebab van turf war (taking the piss on the later)! I'm just surprised at this chaps attitude as we are talking about a professional business sector.

He sounds like he enjoys the sound of his own voice and is nothing more than a playground bully. You have already explained yourself once, of which sounded plausible and he should be aware you have no plan on stealing business. He is just enjoying scaring you, you know, playing the badass gangster.

Personally I would not tell him where you plan to work, it's none of his business. I would however take his call (record the conversation) and let him know he is barking up the wrong tree and has nothing to worry about. I'd also, sternly, make it perfectly clear you do not wish to discuss this matter ever again.

Matt Harper

7,026 posts

230 months

Thursday 16th June 2011
quotequote all
Did this previous employer provide you with a contract of employment? If so, does it contain any form of restrictive covenant/no-compete clause?

Lostprophet

2,549 posts

198 months

Thursday 16th June 2011
quotequote all
Call him back

anonymous-user

83 months

Thursday 16th June 2011
quotequote all
Also, did you have access to any genuine business secrets about processes, products, customer requirements, profit margins etc? This may just be threat and bluster from your former employer, but ignoring the call might not be the best idea. Aggressive employers sometimes rush off for injunctions and paint a picture of the former employee being evasive.

Webber3

1,228 posts

248 months

Thursday 16th June 2011
quotequote all
Call him back and tell him it wasn't something you'd thought about, until he suggested it might happen. Then tell him to back off or you will consider passing on his customer details.

anonymous-user

83 months

Thursday 16th June 2011
quotequote all
Ignore keyboard warrior advice such as the preceding post. Keep a record of all contacts. Invite the employer to put any concerns in writing.

Tonberry

2,294 posts

221 months

Thursday 16th June 2011
quotequote all
Since you're in Birmingham, I'm curious as to what it is you do.

Secondly, fancy telling me more about the S60 T5? I fancy one and want to hear ownership experiences.

Ta.

Zad

13,005 posts

265 months

Thursday 16th June 2011
quotequote all
To echo the above sentiments, phone your local police station and ask to see someone regarding threatening and abusive behaviour. What they are doing is very much illegal and you have evidence. At the very least the company will get a visit from them, and you will have a point of contact who is aware of your case should you need to escalate it in the future.

john_p

7,073 posts

279 months

Thursday 16th June 2011
quotequote all
Write a letter to him -

"I consider your repeated calls and voicemails to be threatening. Do not contact me again by any means, or instruct any of your employees to do so. Further contact will be construed as harassment and will be reported to the police."

They'll never take an injunction out against you, or anything like that. They'd have to somehow prove a customer went to the supposed new company, as a direct result of your involvement, when you don't even work there !?

They are just trying to be Big Clever Boys. Ignore their phonecalls, don't change your number, report them to the police if it continues.