Taboo to Sidestep the Company?

Question

We're having some electrical work done in one of our houses. It's a new area for us, so we hired a company based on a referral from our agent. The electricians (one licensed, one assistant) arrived, did the work, and the lead guy gave me his personal number, saying he is indeed licensed and can do work a lot cheaper than if I go through his employer.

Is this considered kosher, and separately, is it wise? I know there's no free lunch, so what are the pitfalls?

Thomas Manning · Answer

@Colin Reid

If he does it on his own, then you better make sure he has his own workman's comp and is insured because he wont be covered by his employers insurance if he does the work outside of that employer.

Aaron McGinnis · Answer

Not kosher. Not cool either... and very definitely not cool for the worker to be talking to you.

Personally? I'd tell his employer that the worker solicited you. The guy who paid for the advertising that got the job, maintains the insurance and overhead... well, he deserves to know what's happening.

To put it in investor terms... this is like going around a wholesaler to try and buy the house from the owner directly. It's bad faith and bad practice.

Bill Devola · Answer

Its not kosher.  More so not kosher for the worker than for you.  But its not kosher for either of you.

Its like if your friend goes on a date with a girl and on the way out introduces you to her.  Your friend and her never go out again, but you start dating her.  It happens frequently, can cause some bad feelings, but ultimately no one involved committed a felony level offense.

I know people that do this all the time.  Hire one of the "big guys", then make side deals with the workers to moonlight.   If the worker has his license and is openly soliciting work, he's too ambitious and qualified for his boss to keep him as an employee for long anyway.  Just depends on how you feel about meeting him the way you did.  No one can take you to task  you for working with him.  His boss wont like it though, and rightfully so.

The risks are the same with any other contractor you hire.   Actually, a little less since you've seen his work first hand.

Colin Reid · Answer

@Thomas Manning, boom, there's the catch! Thanks for pointing it out.

Taboo to Sidestep the Company?

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