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Ethical Dilemma

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MDXer

Technical User
Oct 19, 2002
1,982
US
I'm currently engaged under contract as a Business Intelligence Consultant and some what enjoy the work I have been doing (I'll get to the somewhat in a minute). I have been on this contract for a few months now and it is an open eded contract with no defined finish date. I was orginally told it would be approximately 6 months possibly longer. Well it has been about six months now and since it was a contract I never pulled my resume from any of the places it is listed nor have I stopped looking to see what other oppertunities exist. Now I may have a potential full time offer comming from another company in a diffrent part of the country, as well as one from the place I am under contract.

I am typically the type of person that likes to see a project to the end but with this there is no defined end. I also believe in developing sound applications and following best practices as much as possible which I am to a great extent prevented from doing at this current location (The some what). Although the people here are great to work with they can tend to be very close minded and look at things in the here and now rather than how something done now may have an affect on something needed later. I don't see a whole lot changing in attitudes or approarch at my current location. The other company I am quite familiar with and is a true development enviroment where ideas are exchanged and listened to. The primary goal of the company is to deliver sound, stable, and high preforming applications. Best practices are followed and new approaches are tested and thought of. I know a number of the people at this company and they are pushing to have an offer extended to me.

I knew that this may eventually occur although I didn't think it would happen for a few more months.

Which leads me to my problem. I don't know if the answer exists and if it is one I want to hear or follow. But is it wrong to enter into discussions with the new company. It is not a situation where I would pit the companies against each other in an attempt to get more money. Job Satisfaction and the type of people I work with is of great importance, at least I feel it is.

"Shoot Me! Shoot Me NOW!!!"
- Daffy Duck
 
It's business. You're not doing anything legally, ethically, or morally wrong by keeping your options open. You certainly won't be doing yourself any favours if you wait until you leave one job before having something lined up for your next career step.
 
You should always be open to a new, better opportunity. It might pay more. It might be more enjoyable. It might be located in a better place.

As long as you don't take or use proprietary information when you go, then you have no ethical problem.

Its hard to accept sometimes, but you are a commodity. A production unit. Other companies aren't attracted by the friendship you'll bring. They're attracted to the productivity potential.

Do you feel that you promised the current company anything?

Go with what makes you feel better about yourself. You have a good job now. The other might be better. You're in a no-lose situation. There is no wrong answer.
 
Even if the contract specifically stipulates that you must not talk to other prospective employers while employed with the company, that would be a clear restraint of trade and completely unenforceable. Like the one in my last contract that stipulated that I was not to work in a Web Development capacity for 12 months after leaving.
 
start training your replacement?

JTB
Senior Infrastructure Specialist
MCSE-NT4, MCP+I, MCP-W2K, CCNA, CCDA,
CTE, MCIWD, i-Net+, Network+
(MCSE-W2K in progress)
 
IANAL; but follow the clause in your contract about terminating and start training your replacement...

JTB
Senior Infrastructure Specialist
MCSE-NT4, MCP+I, MCP-W2K, CCNA, CCDA,
CTE, MCIWD, i-Net+, Network+
(MCSE-W2K in progress)
 
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