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Ask HN: Are you working paid part-time while still having a full-time job?

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Re: Ask HN: Are you working paid part-time while still having a full-time job?

#11

Post by RickS »

I am not currently doing this, but have in the past. What follows is only my experience (full time roles in bay area startups with very standard contracts)

There are two points of overlap between your employer and your side business to be mindful of.

1) time and resources.

Generally speaking, your employer owns all IP you develop at work, or using work resources. In practice, I've never seen an employer be a dick about this, but you should still be exceedingly careful. It's really easy to be 100% free and clear on this one. Just don't ever do side project work (to include answering emails, etc) on work machines or on premises at work.

2) intellectually property.

This one's trickier. The agreement that matters most you already signed, if your employer uses one. It's basically a list of stuff you've already invented or have as a side project, and it exists specifically as a papertrail. eg: I work on finance software interfaces as my full time job, and have also done work on this for myself on the side. This agreement says "I created product X, which does Y with method Z" as part of the employment agreement, so that they can't later claim that I only came up with Y and Z because of my employer's training or resources, thus entitling employer to the project.

How careful you need to be here depends on the thematic proximity of your employer and your side project. If you work for dropbox and your side project is flappy bird, you're probably fine. If you work for adobe and your side project is an alternative to photoshop, do a lot of homework and consider talking to a lawyer.

TL;DR: don't use employer time or resources, do use common sense.

Re: Ask HN: Are you working paid part-time while still having a full-time job?

#12

Post by repomies69 »

kasey_junk wrote: post #2

Most employment agreements I've signed have at least a notification clause, if not an approval one. Those may be illegal in your jurisdiction but in most places in the US they arent. You should verify this before starting to look for part time work. Respectfully, I'd argue that building your own skill set or business is going to be exponentially more valuable use for those hours anyway, unless you really need the cas…

> Respectfully, I'd argue that building your own skill set or business is going to be exponentially more valuable use for those hours anyway, unless you really need the cash.

I've been seeing a lot of arguments that instead say that 6-hour workdays would make employees more productive. Well...

Re: Ask HN: Are you working paid part-time while still having a full-time job?

#13

Post by toomuchtodo »

chillydawg wrote: post #7
Tharkun wrote: post #6

What I do on my own time is none of my employer's business. Mileage and regulations may vary, of course. I work about 20hrs a week on various side-gigs. Pretty strict about the working hours and work not overlapping with whatever my current employer is doing. It's nice to keep things separate.

That's usually fine, but if you worked for me doing what my team does and you were to be constantly tired out because of your side gig, you'd end up on a path to unemployment unless you committed to the full time job. Obviously, that only applies if you do actually turn up tired all the time. If you can pull off the longer hours, rock on!

As long as you're meeting the metrics you're being measured on, it shouldn't matter if you show up tired or not.

Re: Ask HN: Are you working paid part-time while still having a full-time job?

#14

Post by EpicEng »

carsongross wrote: post #5

I would worry about this about as much as your employer worries about ensuring they have a well thought out career development plan for you that includes a fully funded pension.

It's something grown ups should consider

Re: Ask HN: Are you working paid part-time while still having a full-time job?

#16

Post by bbcbasic »

chillydawg wrote: post #7
Tharkun wrote: post #6

What I do on my own time is none of my employer's business. Mileage and regulations may vary, of course. I work about 20hrs a week on various side-gigs. Pretty strict about the working hours and work not overlapping with whatever my current employer is doing. It's nice to keep things separate.

That's usually fine, but if you worked for me doing what my team does and you were to be constantly tired out because of your side gig, you'd end up on a path to unemployment unless you committed to the full time job. Obviously, that only applies if you do actually turn up tired all the time. If you can pull off the longer hours, rock on!

I have a side gig too: raising 2 children. Do you have the same sentiments about that situation?

Re: Ask HN: Are you working paid part-time while still having a full-time job?

#17

Post by parent5446 »

bbcbasic wrote: post #16
chillydawg wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's usually fine, but if you worked for me doing what my team does and you were to be constantly tired out because of your side gig, you'd end up on a path to unemployment unless you committed to the full time job. Obviously, that only applies if you do actually turn up tired all the time. If you can pull off the longer hours, rock on!

I have a side gig too: raising 2 children. Do you have the same sentiments about that situation?

Not him, but yes. I know it's blunt, but if having children runs you down to the point where you are performing very poorly during your full-time job, do not be surprised if you are asked to take unpaid time off. You are still getting paid to do an job, and as said above, what happens on your own time is your own business. Your employer only cares about your work. Does that mean they won't be sympathetic? Of course not. But there's always a limit.

Re: Ask HN: Are you working paid part-time while still having a full-time job?

#19

Post by anta40 »

I ocasionally do short-term freelancing jobs, to get more cash :p

I don't remember whether this is stated in my employment agreement or not, but practically freelancing is OK, as long as you get the job done first. Do it after office hour, for example.

I'm in Indonesia, BTW.

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