Is there anything I can do to simply tell them to bug off?

Just stop answering their questions.

Nothing says "bug off" quite like not giving answers to repeated questions.

You've trained them to continue to rely on you for help. This is your fault. Time to un-train them.

The most effective way is to tell them you charge X per hour for answering questions, and they need to give you an address where to send invoices.

Having to explain your bill will stop most people from asking questions.

Your options are (multiple choice):

• Tell them to stop calling




• Ignore the calls




• Block their numbers




• Offer to consult for an exorbitant rate




• Inform them you're going to request a no-contact order, if they find
  ways to go around your blocks or continue after you tell them to stop
  calling




• Actually request a no-contact order

I've been on the other end of this, taking over for someone who left after building or implementing most of the systems I still use to this day.

For the first few weeks, I was emailing or messaging him constantly. HE did a good job of NOT getting back to me instantly. He was NOT on-call. It gave me time to flail and learn and try to become self-sufficient, and I did slowly wean myself from his support. He also used the exorbitant consultant rate for actual projects we threw his way, until I had enough experience and knowledge built up that we no longer needed him for even that much.

So, having been on the other side of the coin, I can say this: unless you left very clear instructions and processes and manuals, and basically made your leaving seamless, it's not necessarily fair to assume that they aren't genuinely struggling without you. Even so, that in no way leaves you in the position of needing to prioritize their requests, especially if they're not paying you to do so.

Obviously, situations vary, and your mileage may vary. If their requests are overly burdensome or aggressive, then just not answering (or maybe waiting a week/month and finally responding with "did you guys ever figure this out?" (but ONLY if you actually want to take it on, since they very likely did NOT figure this out! LOL!), just to keep the lines open just in case.)

What I haven't seen anyone address is that you say while YOU have stopped taking the calls they're contacting your subordinate. He needs to show tough love with them and tell them to stop calling. You need to make it clear to him that your expectation is that he not work for other companies while on the clock with you -- strongly encourage him to get tough.

Most of the times, nothing beats the simplicity.

Refuse to help, just tell them you're busy. Say,

I'd like you to help, but I got work to do. (Yes, your work, which gets you paid).

If this calls keep coming, stop taking calls.

At some point of time, you have to learn to say "no". The sooner, the better.

Consider what your time is worth to you if you would work as a consultant for them.

For most people, it's a matter of price - if the pay you for example 3000 $ a day for answering questions, you probably wouldn't mind too much (and that's not ludicrous- we pay that for some consultants). Find your sweet spot, add a bit, and seriously offer them to get in a contractual relationship as 'consultant'.

This could end with you having a well paying job, or with them stopping to bother you - both should be solutions you'd be happy with.

Your coworker needs to bill the company for his continued assistance.

He needs to select a consultancy rate which is not inappropriate for the skills and marketplace, e.g. $200/hr.

When he gets a call he needs to document who he's talking to, what the problem is, collect the question(s) from the person if brief, otherwise ask them to send an email elucidating all their questions. Don't answer anything and be quick, especially if it's on your company's time.

After he has gone home from the office and is on his own time, he should take on the questions seriously. Perhaps follow up with the person. Then he should "formally write-up" the answer in a sensible, presentable format, and email it to the person.

Then, he looks at the total time spent on it, round up to the nearest increment of time that is not unreasonable, and send a bill to the company for consulting services net 10.*

It is important this not consist of any "new work" but be confined to wrap-up and exit documentation, akin to an exit interview. He cannot be working for two companies in the same field at once. In fact if this goes very far at all, he needs to have a conversation with your current company's HR to resolve any conflict of interest, which there shouldn't be because it should be confined to discussion of work he already did.

If it just gets him paid, awesome.

It may also cause a little excitement, in which case, the next time they call, he says

"Well, I'd love to help you, but the company seems reluctant to pay. Could you provide a PO number ** for this consultation?"

Once he's past the 10 days (or whatever) of the first bill, when they call he immediately steers the conversation to the fact that their payment is late, and he needs to absolutely refuse to give any further help until it's paid. With luck, they'll be so in need of his assistance that they'll expedite payment, in which case, he has a nice little side business.

* "Net 10 days" is a billing term, it means the bill should be paid pretty much as fast as checks can fly in the mail. It is customary in business. Don't use a longer billing term, or they could troll you for that long and collect free support in the meantime, just by being ambiguous about paying you. Other terms are "net 30" or "cash", the latter means you do not trust them to pay, and need to hear some credit card numbers right now.

** "PO number" expands to "Purchase Order number" which means you are asking them to create a Purchase Order for the goods or services. If he gives you a PO #, that's a verbal commitment that the company desires to buy this and will pay. Presumably he will be unable to do this.

The other answers talk about different ways to essentially either tell them "no" or to threaten them directly either with billing or no-contact orders.

I think the simplest way is to just stop answering their questions. By answering their questions in the past you've essentially implied to them that its okay to bug you with questions because you've been helping them out for all this time.

Stop responding to their calls/texts/messages/whatever. If you ignore them and the volume of contact increases or does not go away- then it turns into harassment and you will have to consider either blocking them or taking further actions to prevent them from bothering you during work.

Literally stop answering the phone to them.

That's it.