August 24, 2006

Associations

OGCA warns of poaching

Warning comes on heels of fraud concerns

PATRICIA WILLIAMS

staff writer

TORONTO

The Ontario General Contractors Association (OGCA) has issued a bulletin to its members alerting them to some “disturbing” staff poaching practices.

The first involves approaches by purported headhunters, alleging a connection with OGCA in an attempt to collect data on superintendents and foremen.

The second involves calls by organizations offering free magazine subscriptions and seeking contact information on employees, particularly field personnel.

“There is a desperate need for management personnel,” OGCA president Clive Thurston told Daily Commercial News. “Some people will use any method whatsoever to steal workers.”

The association does not approve of poaching, whether by a company directly or through a third party.

In its bulletin, OGCA suggested that members advise staff of such activities or “simply adopt a policy of not releasing any employee information.”

Thurston said there is a gentleman’s agreement in effect in the industry “that if they (employees) come looking for a job, fair enough. But you don’t call them. It’s not appropriate.”

Late last week, the association received an e-mail from one of its members “who had just received a call from someone saying he was developing a list of superintendents and foremen on behalf of the OGCA.

“Their phone number was blocked,” Thurston said. “The OGCA number is not blocked. The receptionist knew that. She simply referred the call to the human resources department. The caller immediately hung up.”

Thurston said the OGCA intends to explore its legal options if it discovers the identity of these organizations.

It has advised its members to contact the association in the event that they receive calls from firms alleging an affiliation with OGCA.

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