As normal working practices have resumed this week and us working folk return to our 9-5 activities, you may of found that a colleague or two has decided to hand in their letter of resignation as they wish to start a new year with a fresh challenge elsewhere, some embarking on a new career entirely. However there are many individuals across the UK that have already or are thinking about making the transition to a direct business competitor.
Moving from your company to a competitor can be a difficult and gut-wrenching process. If your current working situation isn’t the best as what it could be and the company across the road makes a naughty enquiry into your services to check up on your availability, how do you respond? ‘Business flirting’ happens often in the world of work, sometimes in secret and there’s not much an employer can do to stop other companies touting the services of an employee.
‘The grass isn’t always greener on the other side’ seems appropriate here. What would entice you to make that jump to a direct competitor? Knowing there was the potential of risking positive relationships you’ve gained with your colleagues and employer.
The question becomes more interesting when you pose the question to employee’s who have worked in a company for a significant amount of time and feel they don’t get the recognition they deserve for their efforts. At a time where monetary incentives are no longer the sole driving force behind employee retention, it’s important for managers to recognise what keeps each individual employee happy. In larger organisations this is may be difficult task, however everyone who is currently working for your business, you employed for a reason. They represent value to your business in what they provide to the running operations. Loyalty and commitment is what companies cherish, that peace of mind that they can share the businesses secrets of success without fear of passing that information onto employees and seeing that information leaking to competitors.
Nathan Pearson – Smith
