3 ms·
Ask HN: Does your job contract prevent you working for yourself?
It can be difficult considering launching a startup when you have to quit your job to do it, especially when you have other financial obligations. How common is it for permanent contracts to prevent us from working for ourselves in the tech industry?
- iamben 15y agoThe last few permanent contracts I've had have had a clause that said the company I was joining would own any work that I do inside or outside of office hours. It's never specific as to what this work is, or who it's for. I've always made sure it's been changed to only work done in the office, unless it's a specific project for them that I'm doing at home. Moreso, I've always had it noted that some stuff I've written in my own time will be used for them at work. IANAL, I have no idea where my legal rights stand, but it made me feel a bit better, just in case. It's never been an issue, though.
- wccrawford 15y agoMine says that they own anything that's related to their business. If I tried to write a competing product, or work for a competitor, they'd own my work. I felt that was perfectly valid and accepted it. There have been a few things that I felt were grey areas, and I've just decided not to work on them. I have plenty of other things, and they weren't money-makers anyhow.
- jamesmoss 15y agoMine says I have to offer my employer first call on any potential work that comes my way, if they turn it down I'm free to take it on as long as it doesn't affect my day job. Additionally if I quit, I can't hire any of my co-workers at a new venture for a period of one year. They've been stung in the past on that last one.