I have one ex- colleague who is a slacker at my previous job.
She always comes late to work and goes back early before 5 pm.
My previous boss is ok with her attitude because she is flexible as long as her employee completes her work before deadline.

The problem is that I always help her to complete her task and she's very dependent on me to complete her work.
During my last week at my previous company, my ex colleague takes leave for one week because she just simply wants to take leave.

When I tell her to wait until I handover everything for her and teaches her to do anything that she doesn't understand, she just brushes me off and says she doesn't need that. She already understands everything.

So I left my job last week to start new job at new place this week. She keeps texting me during office hour if she doesn't understand something. At first I am ok with that since I try to help whatever necessary, but now she also invades my weekend and my sleep time to text me about work. She is also frustrated if I don't text her back immediately. I am so irritated now and I want to block her number, but my new workplace is currently having business deal with her company and we may work together again in the future.
What should I do?
Should I just ignore her text?

just ignore, plain and simple.

charge consultation fees

Yes she could have done better and acted more responsibly during handover, but I feel u have no choice but to continue support her questions even tho FOC, because:

(1) Your legacy at ex company is in question. Anything go wrong, your ex colleague can say “this fler didn’t clarify etc”. Of cos it can also happen even if u help, that is part of corporate life, but at least try to minimize the blaming you will get.

(2) ur current employer has biz relationship with your ex employer, so this legacy thing could damage your future employers’ view of you too.

Anyway it’s quite common to help ex colleagues with questions up to 3-6 months. As long as not doing any work for them. It’s normal practice lah. I once had an email on my work more than 12 months after leaving.

perhaps only reply her when you are convenient eg. after working hours? You may reply in simple way and say will come back to her once you are available?

It's not your problem that she doesn't know how to do her job. Period.
Just ignore her message. Block her if you can't focus. Life goes on.

On another note, IF you still can't let go, think of the below consequences:
- You already left the company. Therefore, you can be accused of stealing/indulged in your previous company's confidential information/documents should your colleague decided to put the blame onto you (if she's caught leaking them to you).
- She cannot discuss her company's matters with you anymore due to confidentiality.
- Her manager/supervisor exists for a reason (hence "Supervise"). The supervisor is paid to take care of his/her direct reports.
- She has responsibility to figure out how to do her task. I believed that's how she got hired, right? (interview time sure said she's independent, self-starter, etc...so now pls prove it).
- You don't owe her or your previous company anything after you've left. The company won't bankrupt just because of your resignation. It'll still be there. All of us are replaceable at any time, including the CEO. So take care of yourself 1st.

Don't burn the bridge...

Since u mentioned got dealing with the old company...
U might need to work with her later... If u got issues... Later problem when dealing with old company...

So try not to ignore fully...
Slowly reply whenever u got time...
Take care yourself first...

this sounds to me like a real annoying situation.

in the first place, how do you want to deal with this situation? especially she is invading your weekends.

just wondering she is asking you for directions on how to do the documents, or in the process of asking that you are doing it for her? as in after she asks so many stuff that you ended up giving her the end product? because i have known people who 'pretend' to ask and then don't know what happen in between that the request 'you do la' occurs.

i'm seeing this situation as no boundary, and it's also hard for you to set a boundary without hurting some professional working relationship. just wondering is your department dealing with your working previous working place's department? if not, boundary setting can be a little easier.

did your former boss ask you in any way how to complete your stuff before you leave?

It's because u may have to deal with your ex company that makes it hard.

By right should just ignore her.

Maybe sengaja reply to her text late so she gets the hint?

She always texts me how to arrange and prepare the documents that I used to do previously.
Even the silliest thing that she can think on herself also she feels like she needs to text me.
For example, if client doesn't reply what she needs to do. It's common sense if the client doesn't reply she just needs to update with them. Why need to ask me about that?
At first I am ok since she texts me only during weekdays, but now she also takes the opportunity to text me during weekend or after office hours.
It's so annoying that it invades my free time.
I can't ignore her because my current company has business deal with my previous company and we might cross path again in the future.

Already did that but she scolded me afterwards.
She's acting so entitled.

tell your boss and her boss, easier to avoid any conflict later.

I used to get call from my ex colleague even after 3 years I left the company, is like I am giving free consultation, first year I was still ok, but already 3 years, that's what I cannot stand, I finally brush that guy off.

Fuck her, literally or not.

I think you better consult your current superior fo this matter. it might involve being accused of leaking new company data...

This post has been edited by ukiya21: Jan 9 2023, 05:26 PM

it looks like she held you hostage. that's not good.

sounds like a good advise. otherwise, you might want to inform your former boss too.