How to Politely Ask a Competitor to Stop Hiring Your Employees Without Burning Bridges

Subject: Request to Refrain from Hiring Our Company Employees

Dear [Competitor Company Name],

I am writing to you regarding the hiring of our company employees. We value the relationship between our companies and believe that maintaining a good relationship is essential for mutual growth and success.

It has come to our attention that there have been instances where our employees have been approached by your company for potential employment opportunities. While we understand the competitive nature of the industry, we kindly request that you refrain from hiring our current employees.

We have invested time and resources in training and developing our staff, and their expertise plays a significant role in our company's success. By not actively recruiting our employees, we can continue to foster a positive and collaborative environment between our organizations.

We appreciate your attention to this matter and your cooperation in maintaining a professional and respectful relationship between our companies. If you have any concerns or would like to discuss this further, please feel free to contact me directly.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Sincerely
[Your Position]
[Your Company Name]

When companies in the same industry, located nearby or even in the same area, hire employees from their competitors, it benefits the employees more than anyone else. Both competing companies end up affecting each other negatively. To prevent this, it is advisable to enter into an agreement. This agreement could be written or verbal.

However, to establish such an agreement, you need to delegate some senior members from your company to discuss this matter with their counterparts. These matters are not initiated by merely sending a business letter. Someone should take the initiative to call representatives from all competing companies together to discuss this matter. Let the minutes of the meeting be signed by each representative. A particular company may hire from a competing company, but there should be an intervening period. This period could be between 1-2 years.

Thanks,
Dinesh Divekar

Dear Rajkumar Saheb,

When such cut-throat competition arises between two or more organizations in an industry, where one tries to woo the other's staff, often through underhanded and unethical means, it results in a loss for both companies. Unfortunately, since no law exists to prevent such actions, as Mr. Divekar observed, an agreement needs to be worked out toward a tangible solution. The top management, together with legal and HR advisers from both organizations, should collaborate to arrive at a binding agreement. This agreement would broadly state that we won't infringe on your personnel or 'smuggle' them out.

Obviously, this does not imply that such 'personnel takeovers' will be eternal. When there are such moves, ample time—depending on the nature and technicality of the job—should be given to the company to make alternative arrangements. This ensures that the 'need is fulfilled' without any break or disruption to role performance.

All the best,
Arif ur Rehman