defector

Intermediate 👥 Human Resources

Definition

An employee who jumps ship to work for the competition, usually taking trade secrets, client lists, and the good coffee machine pods with them. In corporate circles, defectors are simultaneously reviled by their former employers and celebrated by their new ones—at least until they defect again. The term carries a whiff of Cold War espionage, which is frankly appropriate given how HR treats these situations.

Example Usage

After three defectors left for our main competitor in the same quarter, leadership finally realized we might have a company culture problem.

Source: Common business terminology

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