Ethical Dilemma

[Raviepoo]

I am working in homecare through an agency. My primary client is switching to another agency. Her family wants me to apply to work for the new agency because they like my work and they want to keep me on the case.

I am a casual, part time employee for agency #1. They give me far few hours than I would like. I can remain a part time employee for them and still work for the new agency. If I apply to agency #2 and go to work for them as well, am I violating my relationship with agency #1?

[caliotter3]

It depends upon your viewpoint and that of the two agencies. The only actual problem would be if the first agency had some type of "do not compete" clause that you signed upon hire or that is in the employee handbook that you got when hired. Usually an employee can not go with a case, or return to a case within 12 months of the client leaving agency 1, without the employee paying a large fee, as well as the client paying a large fee, typically something like $2500. Now, one can have the ethical opinion that it is not a nice thing to do, but, in reality, nurses do this all the time. Agencies share cases as well as nurses, all the time. No one can stop you from earning a living, but they can make it miserable or impossible to earn a living at their place of employ.