You are asked in an email by your supervisor at your new employer to reveal your former employer’s five (5) largest clients (you work at an accounting firm). There is no specific legal prohibition on revealing this information, however, if you do reveal the information, you know that your new employer is going to try and contact the clients in the hopes that their business will now move to your new firm. You know your previous employer would be significantly adversely affected financially; probably it would go out of business. Would you reveal such information?
2006-09-08 02:19:58 · 6 answers · asked by sandee 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Assuming you didn't sign a confidentiality agreement with your former employer, this is not a business law question, but a business ethics question.
I would be suspect of any employee who divulged such information because they would show themselves as being untrustworthy.
2006-09-08 02:27:10 · answer #1 · answered by Spud55 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't believe I would reveal the information, because as you stated, they would probably go out of business. What I'd do in this case senario, if you feel your new job would be in jeopardy, I'd give them five names, but not the largest clients, and if you know of potential clients, (not with the other firm), I'd throw in those names also. This is not a fair practice on your new employers part, but it is being done all the time. Perhaps, you should call your former employer and ask for your old job back, with an increase in pay?
2006-09-08 09:27:56 · answer #2 · answered by skyeblue 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'M NOT A LAWYER, but I think that is illegal...You might have signed a agreement with your former employer that you would not reveal that info for a certain period of time after leaving their employ. Your current employer might be seeing if you either know about loyalty pacts or testing you morals. If you do reveal that information, the former employer could sue you for damages, breach of confidence and lost profits. If your current employer fires you for not complying, that is wrong termination...which he migh need reminding of with the "would you like me to tell my next employer, your client base list?"
2006-09-08 09:33:09 · answer #3 · answered by Outside the box 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on two things -- any existing non-disclosure agreements with your former company, and the professional (or personal) ethics involved.
If there is no contractual obligation to keep the information secret, and there is no professional obligation arising from a duty of confidentiality to former customers/employers, then your current loyalty should be to your new company.
At that point, it becomes a question of whether you have personal objections to that request, and that's a question for each individual.
2006-09-08 12:17:32 · answer #4 · answered by coragryph 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, because this is a test of your loyalty. The new boss wants to see what damage you may do to him in the future. He may have something in mind for you which would require trust, and you would blow it by providing such info. It is possible the contract with your previous employer may have covered this area. You should verify.
2006-09-08 09:25:51 · answer #5 · answered by superlawyerdude 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Better no. Consider the code of secrecy (What you see, What you hear, when you leave, leave it here).
2006-09-08 09:27:55 · answer #6 · answered by Sam X9 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋