Should I pass my personal info on to selected clients of the company I'm leaving?

May 16, 2007 2:07 PM

Business ethics filter: Should I pass my personal contact info on to selected clients of the company I'm leaving?

I'll shortly be leaving (on good terms) a position with Acme Technical Consulting. While I've been here, I've talked to hundreds of clients, but I've specifically worked closely with about a dozen companies and individuals, to the point where we're all on a comfortably friendly first-name basis - we understand each other and they like my work. I'm moving to a position in different tech sector for a while, but there's an excellent chance that I'll be back to this one in the next few years, so I'd like to maintain these relationships if at all possible with an eye to networking or possible employment down the road.

What I'd like to do is, send these folks a personal email to say, "Hello, I'm leaving Acme but it's been great working with you," and pass along my personal contact info. I'm concerned that it might be inappropriate for me to contact these folks outside of my "official" role here, though... one could argue that their contact information is intellectual property belonging to my current employer and to take them for personal use would be wrong. I also have worst-case-scenario visions of one or another of them contacting Acme to complain about this perceived breach of decorum, and Acme giving future employers horrible references, and ultimately being chased through the streets of my hometown by hordes of angry technical consultants waving torches and pitchforks.

Am I just being overly paranoid here? What are the rules as to when it is or is not appropriate to contact people on your own behalf when you've met and worked with them on behalf of a company? Any guidance or personal experiences here are appreciated. Thanks!

posted by anonymous to work & money (17 comments total)

do you have a non-compete clause in your contract? if so, actually even if not, be very careful about this.

you could write a good-bye email in which you outline you are leaving and who will be taking over your duties at acme technical consulting. slip in your outside contact info "in case there are any questions" ...
posted by krautland at 2:17 PM on May 16, 2007

This is common practice in contracting/consulting fields. I saw a rather bad departing (yelling, etc.) and the executives were fully aware after going through his e-mail that he sent out mail to former clients. They (the employers) didn't blink an eye.
posted by geoff. at 2:18 PM on May 16, 2007

Read your company handbook very carefully. Every company I have ever worked for has had explicit details on this sort of thing.
posted by tastybrains at 2:20 PM on May 16, 2007

I would have no qualms doing this. I would have no problem with one of my employees doing this, either. It sounds like legitimate networking to me.

I've actually had several people with whom I worked closely contact me in almost this same fashion when they left. In fact, here's a fax from somebody who just left last month.

I think this is acceptable.
posted by jdroth at 2:22 PM on May 16, 2007

It depends on the law where you live. I just edited an article by a Canadian lawyer who described a court case about just this. In the particular case, it was ruled that some professionals are allowed to take client contact info with them, since, without it, they would have no way to continue their careers. I could post the article link, but it's specific to Canada, so I'm not sure it would be relevant.
posted by acoutu at 2:23 PM on May 16, 2007

Perhaps you could contacting these clients through a professional networking site (such as LinkedIn), and asking to add them to your network--assuming that you don't think your previous employer would react badly to seeing these clients in your network.
posted by carrienation at 2:36 PM on May 16, 2007

I really don't have a useful answer here, but between putting up one's own web page, using Linkedin, etc, it's very easy to make yourself findable by those who want to find you.

It would seem that even if your contract or case law is against you, telling customer contacts "if you want to find me, I'm not hard to find online and I'll be happy to hear from you" would leave you in the clear. Though I'd be interested in hearing informed comment on that.
posted by adamrice at 2:39 PM on May 16, 2007

At one company, I provided my email address, in case any clients needed to get an answer to something before my replacement got up to speed. ;)
posted by acoutu at 2:48 PM on May 16, 2007

I think it's not weird/unusual if you frame it as a departure notification - I've seen tons of those. In fact, I think it makes companies look less professional when employees suddenly disappear. Since you are nervous about the possible reaction of your employer, why don't you ask them if you could send, from your business address, something like this:

Dear Client:

After many wonderful years at Acme Consulting, I will be leaving the firm to pursue an opportunity in [new tech sector]. Fortunately, I will be leaving you in the extremely capable hands of [your replacement/colleagues], who can be contacted at [email/phone].

I have truly enjoyed working with you over the years, and I hope our paths will cross again.

[Your Name]
[e-mail]
posted by lalex at 2:50 PM on May 16, 2007

Another vote for this is fine. Building your network is expected behavior. Certainly check with your HR director about company policy regarding this, that is always advisable. But absent them having you sign a noncompete agreement, you're free to build personal and professional relationships with whomever you please.

The idea(s) about sending them to your homepage/being easy to find online is(are) great for two reasons, one - they will seek you out if they are compelled, two - it is courteous to someone who may reciprocate your intent to keep in contact. Alternately, send the email and ask the contacts if you can take their email addresses with you. If no or no reply, then you have your answer. Network building is an active activity.

In the end, though, you would be doing yourself a disservice by not competently building your network of both professional and personal contacts. This is career rule #1 in the 21st century. It has been 'who you know' for quite some time.
posted by valentinepig at 3:11 PM on May 16, 2007

I think you will be fine so long as you're very clear in your email to them that you are not trying to poach them from Acme. Point them to the right resources at Acme and, as krautland says, give them your information "in case there are any questions."

Also, I like your idea of saying that it was a pleasure working with them. People like that stuff and don't hear it too often (that is, unless they're the person writing the checks).
posted by lackutrol at 3:13 PM on May 16, 2007

Speaking as someone who works with well over a hundred individuals from dozens of companies, I will definitely being taking my little black book with me when I leave the organization in order to leave the door open for consulting opportunities or jobs or both.

I consider this ethical. What would be unethical is for me to use this information to compete with my current employer, either by providing the info to others (for a price) who could make use of it, or by offering services identical to those that I or my organization offer now.

Two years is usually standard period for a non-compete clause.

It may also be wise to explain to your current employer that you may wind up in the same tech sector in a couple of years, and communicate that you would like to help them out by connecting the dots at that time. Better yet, continue to stay in contact with your current employer, and continue to pass on leads and contacts as a show of good faith - it's the essence of networking.
posted by KokuRyu at 3:13 PM on May 16, 2007

You're being overly paranoid. Go ahead and do it. The only problem is that email's a bit impersonal. You should call up your contact at the company and let them know over the phone. You're not doing anything illegal, unethical, or even impolite. (Now if you started your own company and stole these clients six months later that would be questionable. A simple goodbye is just fine.)
posted by nixerman at 3:41 PM on May 16, 2007

I would wait until you are gone and then send the "enjoyed working with you btw here is my email address" email. As long as there is no overt solicitation for business your company won't have any case against you.

Personally, I think this is one of those better to ask forgiveness than permission situations. I think the co will almost certainly say no if you ask - and then you'll have also alerted them to your intentions. Send a discreet email after the fact and it's likely they will never know.
posted by COD at 3:45 PM on May 16, 2007

I think you should go for it, I just think you shouldn't do it by email.

Do it in person, mention you're leaving, and hand them a business card with your personal contact info written on the back. (I think this is the most convenient way, then they have it in a convenient format to do whatever they want with it.)

It's not that it's unethical, but it could create the appearance of impropriety at some point down the road, if someone was looking to make trouble for you. Given that email is far from an ephemeral media -- email can stick around virtually forever (and if you're not treating it that way now, you should) and is generally unsuitable for anything that could ever be used or manipulated to show you in a bad light later. Particularly as you're on your way out the door.
posted by Kadin2048 at 9:35 PM on May 16, 2007

I'm with COD on this one. Take their info with you and contact them AFTER you've left the company that you're currently with.
posted by misanthropicsarah at 6:26 AM on May 17, 2007

This is standard; go for it. You're not even trying to poach them; you're just giving them your contact info.
posted by raf at 6:39 AM on May 17, 2007