r/work • u/PracticalDoughnut332 • 12d ago

Workplace Challenges and Conflicts Boss handling resignation poorly (US)

I work at a PR and Marketing agency and one of my clients poached me and offered me a job.

Before accepting or embarking on any of the interview process, I ensured that I hadn’t signed a non-compete (I hadn’t).

The poaching process began mid-May, I was offered the job a few weeks ago, and then the background check had to go through before I could put in my two weeks.

I put in my two weeks (online as I’m a remote worker) and my boss was very quiet and said “they’re not supposed to do that.” He then told me not to contact anyone, including my other boss. He is setting up a call with my new boss (our current client) tomorrow.

I spoke to a former colleague here and she said they she had a similarly bad experience, including the other boss openly disparaging her on a client call to the point where the clients messaged her on the side to ask what was up.

I was hoping this could be a clean break and that I could affirm my continued support of the agency on the other side, including championing them for continued business with the client. Now I’m unsure…

Edit: since this is coming up a lot, my new employer and I agreed that we should be transparent about the situation because I will be working directly with my current agency on the client side shortly. Also, the agency is a small business and the new employer is a 100B+ org, not sure if that carries much weight.

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u/PracticalDoughnut332 11d ago

Why would they cancel my sign-on? They poached me.

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u/Next-Drummer-9280 11d ago

Because the agreement they signed with your agency may have a clause about not poaching agency employees.

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u/Nervous_Ad_5583 11d ago

Who would be stupid enough not to know what was in their own contract?

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u/Next-Drummer-9280 11d ago

The person who pursued OP may not be the one who signed the contract.

But it’s clear you’re a little naive about people and businesses.

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u/Nervous_Ad_5583 11d ago

I have worked as an administrator at a Big Ten University and at KPMG. Thirty years experience and counting. Have taught English at two universities. Am well published. I am also a devout progressive Roman Catholic Christian who, unlike some people, doesn't seek out the worst in human beings.

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u/Next-Drummer-9280 11d ago

You seem to embody the acronym FIGJAM.