Hi TK,

I dont know about your contract with the current employer but every office/business has a code which prohibits all its employees any contact with any competitor - unless specifically authorised by thier supervisor. This is to protect business interests and confidentiality.

On a personal level it doesnt matter if you like your office/job/suprevisor/owner - but professionally you are required to adhere to established norms of professional conduct and respect your company's business interests.

Legally, anything can happen - depends on the amount of time and money your employer has and wishes to spend on his lawyers - but it is always prudent to give adequate notice to your current employer of your decision to quit, complete any current assignments BEFORE you stop working, get a satisfactory certificate from your current employer BEFORE you join the competition. It is NOT compulsory to inform him about your next job, but if it was mentioned in any of your contracts in the past with your current employer, then he has RIGHT to stop you from working for any of his competitor for a specified amount of time.

Canada is a small job market and your past actions will always be referred to in future - so do it the right way - not just the legal way. Also, please dont compare your situations with some past employee, since you might not know what they are suffering/enjoying currently or what skills they might have to overcome thier past mis-deeds.

All the best.

Hiren