Consider the following hypothetical situation: You are a
commercial roofing contractor who has spent many years establishing
relationships with customers. A great deal of your company's
success is the result of the efforts of two key employees who have
been with your company since its formation. One of these employees
is your leading salesman; the other is your chief job
estimator.
One morning, these two employees tell you that while attending
industry meetings during the previous few months, they were
approached and recruited for employment by a competing company. The
employees then announce they have accepted employment with your
competitor. You thank the employees for their hard work and efforts
and wish them luck in their new employment. When the employees
leave, they take the collection of customer business cards they
accumulated during their years with your company.
Weeks pass, and you begin to notice a drop in business. You hear
many of your customers are doing business with the roofing company
that now employs your former salesman and job estimator. You
suspect your former employees re-established contact with your
customers. Can you do anything about it? Well, that depends.
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