Can an employment co that has a contract with a company hire an employee from that company to work for them?

Question

I work for a company that has a contract with a temp staffing co I applied to this same staffing company to find a new position, now the staffing company is offering me a job at their office, is this ethical and will my former employer have any legal recourse against the staffing company if I take the job?

Answer 1

That really depends on the terms of the contract. Most contracts can't prohibit an individual from seeking employment (non-compete agreements aren't legal in most states.)

The ethics question is a different story. Although it may be legal for a vendor to hire employees away from one of their clients, it's not generally well regarded and may result in the staffing firm losing your company's business if handled improperly.

My recommendation would be that the company's account rep or other exec at the agency contact your boss and indicate that they have a position you'd be perfect for and would they mind if you were recruited for the job? There is always the risk that your company will say "no", but it's a small risk if the call is handled correctly and with emphasis on the desire to preserve the relationship.

Good luck.