Ask HN: Can you get away with not working?

#1

Post by throwaway184827 » Sun, Feb 04, 2018, 8:16 PM UTC

Been working for a startup for about 5 months while I bootstrap my own stuff to ramen profitability and I feel like I can get away with not working as much as I should at my day job. I don't really enjoy my relatively new job (but who does), which consists of working on shitty enterprise software, on one of the worst code bases I've ever seen (what’s new).

Managers are very hands-off here, not many meetings either, outside of a weekly stand-up. I get just enough done each week to seem mildly productive to management which seems to be working.

Thing is, I spend a good 40% of my time working on growing a couple Android apps and a SaaS business I've built which make up ~40% of my income so that I can finally quit working for The Man and focus on my dream full time.

Posting this to get some thoughts from people who may have been or currently are where I'm at. I get that it's wrong, but that hasn't stopped me from doing it.

Am I the only one that does this?

Re: Ask HN: Can you get away with not working?

#2

Post by andkon » Sun, Feb 04, 2018, 8:28 PM UTC

I don't think you're the only one. I think that, outside of being careful to not be caught, it's pretty okay. The only real thing I'd caution is that it's especially soul deadening to be in a job that legitimately uses so little of your skills and captures so little of your interest. If it's possible for you to live merely off of the side biz income, I'd say make the leap and quit your job.

You'd be changing comfort for urgency and meaning, imo, and as long as it's financially sustainable, I'd say that's a good tradeoff.

Re: Ask HN: Can you get away with not working?

#3

Post by antoinealb » Sun, Feb 04, 2018, 8:33 PM UTC

Be careful, many contracts contain parts that give full ownership of what you make on company time to your employer. You might loose your dream if you are not careful.

Re: Ask HN: Can you get away with not working?

#4

Post by throwaway777007 » Sun, Feb 04, 2018, 8:36 PM UTC

Definitely not alone. I'm basically doing the same thing although none of my side projects are anywhere near as prpfitable.

Re: Ask HN: Can you get away with not working?

#5

Post by hutzlibu » Sun, Feb 04, 2018, 8:37 PM UTC

I don't think the hourly base of being paid doesn't work for programming anyway. There are hours when I get done a lot and on other times I just sit for hours on something and do things, but accomplish nothing. What matters is the result. So if they are happy with your results, even though you are only giving 60%, I think it is OK.

But quit as soon as possible and do something you really want! You only have limited lifetime, don't throw it away ... (even if you get money for it)

Re: Ask HN: Can you get away with not working?

#6

Post by dsr_ » Sun, Feb 04, 2018, 8:38 PM UTC

antoinealb wrote: post #3

Be careful, many contracts contain parts that give full ownership of what you make on company time to your employer. You might loose your dream if you are not careful.

This. Go re-read your terms of employment right now.

Re: Ask HN: Can you get away with not working?

#7

Post by mr_spothawk » Sun, Feb 04, 2018, 8:38 PM UTC

I quit working for the man, and focusing on getting to ramen profitability is hard and scary.

Way to keep a paycheck :)

Re: Ask HN: Can you get away with not working?

#8

Post by noonespecial » Sun, Feb 04, 2018, 8:39 PM UTC

Just imagine all of the coders that came before you that worked very hard on that project and made it worse. Your managers might be happy to finally see someone fubar-ing at a much reduced rate!

Re: Ask HN: Can you get away with not working?

#9

Post by tw1010 » Sun, Feb 04, 2018, 8:39 PM UTC

antoinealb wrote: post #3

Be careful, many contracts contain parts that give full ownership of what you make on company time to your employer. You might loose your dream if you are not careful.

Some contracts even give ownership of what you create on your free time to the company.

Re: Ask HN: Can you get away with not working?

#10

Post by d0m » Sun, Feb 04, 2018, 8:40 PM UTC

I mean, it's illegal and you're lying to your employer.. so in the end it's about your morale sense.. it doesn't matter much what other people do or think of it.

A somewhat stupid analogy is like saying "I'm killing people in my spare time. I get that it's wrong, but that hasn't stopped me from doing it. Am I the only one that does this?" If you find other people doing it won't make it more legal ;-)