Check out some similar questions!

jennivilla1 · Nov 18, 2009, 07:19 AM

I work for a small roofing company. We have a roof repair department, recently one of my co workers got fired. Because he stole a customer from the company. Now the owner of the compnay is suiting him. My sister asked me if I new someone that would to the job for her for less, and I ask my co worker if he could give me a estimate, and he did. But never did the work. I want to know if I should tell the owner of the company. Before he finds out on his own. And how should I tell him? I'm not able to sleep at night because I'm scared that I might lose my job.

jmjoseph · Nov 18, 2009, 07:29 AM

The big question is, the gentleman who actually gave you an estimate, does his boss know that he is moonlighting? Will by you going to the boss, and coming clean on your favor to a friend, get this other guy in trouble? I would certainly bet that your boss would get more upset with HIM, than with you.

This is a tough spot to be in. I would talk it over with the other guy first, before I did anything.

jennivilla1 · Nov 18, 2009, 07:39 AM

Yes I think the RR guy was moonlighting and mu boss knows that. But we are not allow to talk to him. And I'm scared that he will tell my boss something and then I get in trouble.

jmjoseph · Nov 18, 2009, 07:59 AM

I think it would be best that he hear it from you, instead of the other guy. This was your friend that you were trying to help with a little savings. It wasn't like you cut someone off at the door and told them to go talk to the RR guy. You had nothing to gain in trying to be a good friend. You were not to profit off this transaction, so tell him that you made a mistake in judgement.

I personally don't think that you "stole from the company", the profit from the potential job was not something that the company owned yet.

If your boss doesn't appreciate your honesty, then maybe he's not worth working for. I don't quite understand who you are not "allowed" to speak to.

You'll continue to wonder what will happen until you tell him the truth.

Let us know how it goes. Good luck to you.

Schoolmarm97 · Mar 25, 2012, 08:05 AM

Your co-worker was already fired for moonlighting, according to your original question. If that's the same co-worker you asked to give you an estimate, then you are in the clear. He no longer works for the company, and you have the right to get estimates from anyone you choose.

I'm guessing that the "stealing customers" issue meant that he was actually using his on-the-job access to customer calls and contact information to round up side jobs for himself. That's quite different from simply moonlighting, which means working an additional job outside of your regular employment. If that's the case, while you might want to help him by throwing work his way, I would be leery of anyone who would stoop to an underhanded method of making money. Many companies have their employees sign forms promising not to do that, and some even require that employees sign that they will not open a competing business within a certain distance from their current employer's range. If an employee signs those forms or agrees not to undermine the business by stealing names and contacts and then does so, he is not behaving in a very ethical way.