My POC at an agency (client) has been hitting on me via text. I haven’t responded, and they’ve called attention to my silence. What are my next steps?

8 comments

1. So, you have a shitty choice. Unless Jessie is laying it on thick, trying to address the situation is likely to fuck you over worse than him. Is that fair? No. Is that the most likely outcome? Yea.

   So, if I were you, I’d weigh his benefit vs his cost. Not to mention, let’s say his boss is on point, and says Jessie’s behavior is out of line and fires Jessie, now you don’t have a contact, or need to build up from scratch.

   Personally, this comes down to how egregious he’s actually being. “Hey beautiful, we have a job for you” fine I’ll deal with it, “hey wyd tonight” less so.

2. Do you have a manager who can possibly reassign you to a different client and put someone else on this AH? If not, your options are tell Jesse that you’re not interested, maybe lie and say you’re in a relationship? Potential for the work to dry up anyway. Go over his head to his manager because you’re concerned how his response would affect the business to business relationship. Still potential for that to go badly.

   If you’re self employed and this company is a client or this is an employment agency and you’re a temp they farm out to their clients, starting to try to find another agency is probably a good move just in case it goes badly.

   Every possibility Jesse will take no for an answer and all will be well, but being prepped for the worst while hoping for the best is a smart move.

3. I’m new in my career so take my thoughts with a grain of salt. But I would raise it with their boss. I would write it out like “I look forward to having a productive business partnership, but I need a new POC because Jesse has been inappropriate and incompetent.” I would try to emphasize that the personal messaging and selfies are distracting and deter your ability to complete your job. I may say something along the lines of “I look forward to continuing our business relationship. Can you connect me with a different POC?”

   Another way to phrase the last sentence is “if you agree that business should be conducted at a higher standard, can you connect me with a different POC?”

   I would attach screenshots (including your own responses so its clear that youre not encouraging that line of conversation).

4. I’d go with asking if they have time for a call and just say

   “I need to ask for a new POC. I think Jesse may have an interest in me, and they’re allowing it to affect their professionalism. At first I tried to brush it off but it’s started to impact our working relationship. I value the work I do with you guys and I hope there’s someone else you can put me in touch with?”

   Be prepared to send screen caps if asked.

   You could, if this feels nuclear, try replying to Jesse’s message with a “in all honesty Jesse I’m not much of a texter in my professional relationships.” See if they take the hint?

5. This is quid pro quo, and that is a form of bribery, which can be illegal

6. I agree with letting the boss know. Get reassigned, and maybe save the next person in the process?

   Be safe.

7. Might be the time to look to other companies where you can continue to work. Once you find one to be employed at make it clear to anyone talking about dating you never date anyone you work with so this issue doesn’t pop up on you again. Meantime maybe just deal with him when you have to for work reasons. And don’t give out your personal number to coworkers, instead get a cheap(er) smartphone for work only calls so when you are off work you can just turn the phone off.

   Trying to set boundaries at this point will prolly be a lot harder at this juncture with your present company.

8. Share with your boss. They need to have input. This is their business.

   Unless you’re the boss. Then you need to brainstorm with someone about how to address this.
   You maybe be able to set boundaries with the guy.

   Don’t let things stay as they are. That would be the worse thing.