Once you fire them, all that goes out the window in right to work states. From a different perspective, it takes an employee a lot of gumption to step out on their own versus a safer bet as an employee. Usually their motivation is because they feel at a dead end and have been over promised and under delivered. It’s a balancing act, but I’d say these days that employees are mostly impacted by their expectations from the employer falling short - an obvious one is wages not keeping up with inflation, but the more significant reasons are generally their perception of whether they have a positive outlook in their existing role. Acknowledge top performers and reward them, at the same time, don’t let the clock punchers bleed you dry; they’re not going anywhere anyways…

“We work as a lump sum contractor, which prevents me from providing an itemization of material. Our sales tax is paid when we purchase needed material, this option is not allowable when material cost itemization is provided.”

That’s my part A response. As far as not wanting his business, “Corporate has decided that we do not want this job, I wish you the best going forward.”