Voicemail

How long can an employer keep my name in the voice mail system after I have left the company?

I was in sales of high dollar new homes. I left 6 weeks ago and my past employer has not removed my name from the voice mail system. Some customers have called leaving a message not knowing I have left, and expected a return call from me. Some prospects have met my previous employeer at a home show and asked where I was. He did not tell them I no longer worked there. I feel this is deceptive and places my name in a bad light. My feeling is they are afraid they will lose sales once prospects realize I am gone. Also, I do not have a no compete agreement. Am I allowed to call my past customers and prospects to let them know I have left? I feel I owe it to them and they are not being taken care of. Am I allowed to tell them where I work? I did take new employment with a competitor.

Public Comments

1. As long as they want!
2. the old employer probably kept your voice mailbox in hopes that other personnel there could snag sales from anyone who calls in and leaves a message. I don't see that it places you in a bad light because a customer who doesn't hear back from you would probably figure out that you have left the company, rather than think you are ignoring them. If you have contact info for former customers, go ahead and contact them.