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Do most companies have a problem with you doing side work?

M

manlymatt83

Lifer
I have some interviews these upcoming weeks. I already had one and told them every once in a while I do side contracting work on the weekends, which has NOTHING to do with that company and the work they do (they would never ever be competing). Was this just an odd company? Or do most companies have a problem with their employees doing work elsewhere for some extra cash?

The two things I do on the side are:

- Web projects for my Uncle in a completely different state
- A personal web project that I've been working on with a friend for a really long time dealing with ordering products online... we haven't finished it yet but are always working on it till its done.

Comments?
 
I'd imagine it would make any buisness uncomfortable, but it would be like telling a mechanic that he's not allowed to fix his own car at home.... I just don't see where they have the right to do that.
 
Check with your HR department. I think most of the time they forbid it except when you have explicit permission to do so.
 
side work on your own time is fine.
side work on company time and resources is not so fine.
 
Originally posted by: mjuszczak
Originally posted by: HN
side work on your own time is fine.
side work on company time and resources is not so fine.
Click to expand...

Of COURSE not. Side work on my own time... 100% OWN time. weekends only.
Click to expand...

then you should be fine. they can't tell you not to do anything productive on your own time.
 
haha, my office mate pretty much does real estate work all day as a side gig when he's supposed to be programming
 
Originally posted by: HN
side work on your own time is fine.
side work on company time and resources is not so fine.
Click to expand...

that's not true.

I work for HR and I'll tell you that all the companies that I have worked for have a policy where employees have to notify them if they work somewhere else. Most of the times they don't care if you do and they approve it but that's only when it's for a totally different field of work where company confidentiality would not be broken.

so it doesnt matter if it's company time or not.
 
Some companies do and some companies don't. My company has a policy that says they don't have a problem with sidework as long as it doesn't intefere with your work. In fact, we had a guy here that runs the movie website MoviesForGuys.com. He occasionally does interviews on a local sports radio station. He left for another company a while back but is still doing the website and the interviews.

My personal suggestion, don't bring up your sideword unless you already know that a potential employer is OK with it. It can hurt your hiring potential because the employer will look at you and say, "Geez, this guy is going to leave us after just a few months to pursue his side business full time."
 
fyi, if you're interviewing I certainly wouldn't make any mention of it.

I wouldn't hire somebody who would say "oh, I can't do that this weekend...I have to work my other job"
 
If youa re a web dev I can see the potential for problems.

My Cousin works for the pohone company and he could get in trouble if he was found to have helped me with My netowrk install EVEN THOUGH they currently do not offer CAT5 installation in residential property.

Also The local dealership gives all employees a pretty big discount on auto repairs and YOU WILL NOT GO TO A COMPETTING SHOP!

The thing to rememebr is that there is a level of perception that some companies have. I used to do consulting and my current employer felt it could be a problem given my new postion and how it would "look" So I had to choose. I chose the job
 
I can understand direct competition, but I will refuse to take a job that doesn't let you do anything on the side. That's just crap.
 
Originally posted by: HN
side work on your own time is fine.
side work on company time and resources is not so fine.
Click to expand...

Not nessisarly.

My would have been on my time (I would take PTO) and yes they have a right to say. I gave them that right when I took the job.

If you are doing side work in a similar fieldthat can cause problems. If I am an auto mechanic and I also work on the side I am taking potential bussiness away from my employer.

Now most Mechs PAY FOR THERE OWN TOOLS so you would think they can do what they want however most employment contracts or employee handbooks have a provision in them in this area. Some companies don't care some do.
 
I think one of the reasons companies frown on it is they'll assume at some point you'll be spending time on it during the week. Even if its just an occasional phone call or email or whatever, so its eating into your productivity. I'm sure some spend quite a big portion of their time on it, just like us neffers do on here.
 
Just don't mention it in the interview. Here at UF you need permission, which is readily given. You just fill out a "Disclosure of Outside Activities" form.
 
The company I am interviewing with is a voice over IP company. The site jobs I do are design websites for my Uncle, and like I said the online ordering website. Developing websites doesn't really conflict with voice over IP?
 
In my field (news photography), its very common to do side work to earn extra money. In fact, on Sunday I will be working alongside my co-worker; I'll be getting paid $200 for the 2-hr event from a PR firm, he will be getting paid $14/hr from our newspaper. The general rule of thumb is that the work cannot be done for a competitor. Meaning, I can shoot all the senior portraits and weddings I want because our newspaper does not do those things and I would not be a competitor. But I can't freelance for a paper 30 miles south of us because they are a competitor in our market area.

It can be a gray area at times but common sense should tell you most of the times if it's right or wrong.

I should note that if most companies expect you to use your own tools for freelance work. Common sense says you shouldn't be designing webpages for a client across the country using the hardware and software available to you at your full-time job.
 
At my current company, they have each employee fill out a form annually listing any outside employment they may have. They have various rules governing what is acceptable in terms of doing the same type of work for competitors, etc. I think the rules may differ depending on whether you are hourly or salaried as well.
 
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