Marketing employee accepts a job with one of their own clients after confirming there's no non-compete; boss tries to intervene after they give the 2 weeks' notice: ‘He’s setting up a call with my new boss'

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Cata Holmes • Writer
Aug 21, 2026 2:00 PM EDT

Although a two-week notice should leave room for a professional transition, some bosses have a hard time accepting when a worker's next opportunity happens to come from a familiar place…

Working in marketing comes with a whole lot of advantages, but there's a big problem when it comes to having direct contact with the client, which may cause some problems with the current employees. In this case, shared by u/PracticalDoughnut332, this PR worker was offered a position at a client's company, and she agreed after doing a background check and realizing there was no competition between the two companies. Little did you know that her former boss would hijack her new job by scheduling a direct meeting with her new boss.

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  • Some things need to be sorted out in private, and it's important to make sure people's feelings aren't mixed up with work. This is something the former boss had to understand when the employee told him they were going to be working for the client's company. And, even though in some cases this would not be possible due to competition and confidentiality, in this particular case, they could leave with no problems since they never signed a non-compete agreement. 

  • I work at a PR and Marketing agency and one of my clients poached me and offered me a job.
    via PracticalDoughnut332

  • Good call... in marketing, companies usually signed that paper to avoid this exact situation.

    Before accepting or embarking on any of the interview process, I ensured that I hadn't signed a non-compete (I hadn't).
    via PracticalDoughnut332
  • The poaching process began mid-May, I was offered the job a few weeks ago, and then the background check had to go through before I could put in my two weeks.
    via PracticalDoughnut332

  • Oh no... I can imagine the bosse's face when finding out the employee accepted an offer from their own client!

    I put in my two weeks (online as I'm a remote worker) and my boss was very quiet and said "they're not supposed to do that." He then told me not to contact anyone, including my other boss.
    via PracticalDoughnut332
  • A marketing and PR employee, after realizing that the two companies are going to work together to make a good, smooth transition.
    via Unsplash+ (via Molly the Cat)

    A marketing and PR employee, after realizing that the two companies are going to work together to make a good, smooth transition.

    Actor performance of story events.

  • This is the scary part: imagine looking at your boss's face and seeing the disappointment when they realized that a client betrayed them. Because, essentially, this is how he felt. Yes, I know there was no big documentation signed that could prevent this from happening, but still, maybe there was something that could have been avoided if morals and ethics came into play.

  • He is setting up a call with my new boss (our current client) tomorrow.
    via PracticalDoughnut332
  • I spoke to a former colleague here and she said they she had a similarly bad experience, including the other boss openly disparaging her on a client call to
    via PracticalDoughnut332
  • the point where the clients messaged her on the side to ask what was up.
    via PracticalDoughnut332

  • Now, I understand the employee's nerves, but I think it's okay for the boss to have a meeting with the client (slash new boss). Both need to know that the attitude may have offended the former employer, since he has been expecting more respect and trust from the other party. 

  • Former boss after finding out one of their clients hired one of his employees on the side.
    via Unsplash+ (via sarah b)

    Former boss after finding out one of their clients hired one of his employees on the side.

    Still frame for contextual reference only.

  • I was hoping this could be a clean break and that I could affirm my continued support of the agency on the other side, including championing them for continued business with the client. Now I'm unsure...
    via PracticalDoughnut332

  • Yay... happy to read this! In the end, the employee is able to leave and they should persue this path.

    Edit: since this is coming up a lot, my new employer and I agreed that we should be transparent about the situation because I will be working directly with my current agency on the client side
    via PracticalDoughnut332
  • shortly. Also, the agency is a small business and the new employer is a 100B+ org, not sure if that carries much weight.
    via PracticalDoughnut332
  • Zealousideal_Pay2128 I wouldn't have told them anything except the date of my last day. If anyone asked where I was going I'd have remained silent. Was your boss contacted as part of the background check?
    via PracticalDoughnut332
  • Just-Shoe2689 NEVER tell them who you are going to work for. Hes going to try and f up.
    via PracticalDoughnut332
  • pwolf1771 Why why WHY did you tell them where you were going? He's gonna try to f this up for you...
    via PracticalDoughnut332
  • BxHaze234 Never tell your current where you're going even if you're going to work for a client. it's not their business.
    via PracticalDoughnut332
  • Asil228 Remember. They would terminate you in a heartbeat if they needed to ... take care of yourself and your future. You did nothing wrong and he is just an unprofessional and pathetic manager. No guilt.
    via PracticalDoughnut332
  • Advanced Milk7795 I know you said that you hadn't signed a non- compete, but you don't know if your client signed any agreements with your (soon to be, former) employer. In my field, that's commonly in contracts.
    via PracticalDoughnut332
  • moonhippie Common sense here. Of course they're ped. I know it's just business, but... Your new employee shows they have no loyalty, possibly no integrity. Keep that in mind as you start your new beginning. How much loyalty are they going to have towards you?
    via PracticalDoughnut332
  • A marketing employee is putting in her two-week notice before starting to work at the client's company.
    via Unsplash+ (via Molly the Cat)

    A marketing employee is putting in her two-week notice before starting to work at the client's company.

    Model portrayal.

  • the_chols Congrats on getting poached. I was close myself but the firm poaching was worried that my current company would blackball them.
    via PracticalDoughnut332
  • warlocktx ask your new boss for an earlier start date if they start to treat you badly
    via PracticalDoughnut332
  • VFTM Good luck, my last boss was a nightmare after I gave notice to the point of attempting to sabotage my new job.
    via PracticalDoughnut332

  • I'm glad to see that all three of them agreed on a smooth transition and are ready to let this employee depart. Of course, transparency is important since all of them are still going to be in contact for future work and assignments.

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marketing marketing employee toxic boss two week notice resignation
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