No freelancing allowed?

[orangeena]

I got a job offer and a stipulation was made that there is no freelancing allowed. Has anyone ever run into this? I've never heard of it.

Its an inhouse position so its not like I'd be taking clients away from an agency. Plus, I certainly didn't go into the interview talking about side jobs. I've had a few here and there, but not a lot. perhaps he had a previous employee that spent too much time working on other stuff or something.

Anyway, has anyone run into this before?

[Patrick Shannon]

I don't remember where the thread was, but I think this was talked about a few weeks ago. As I recall, they can forbid you to do freelance and even make you sign a contract (although one person said that such contract don't always hold up in court because it's restricting you from providing for yourself). Where one situation got icky was when the employer asked to turn over one potential freelancing employees over to them.

[JaCkinbOx]

This is a small concern for me, as well. I'm about to join a local print shop that does some in-house designing, but I intend to carry on freelancing while I'm at it. I already have some loyal clients, and as long as my freelancing doesn't intrude on company time, I see absolutely nothing ethically wrong with it.

[idaho]

Ask them why they don't allow feeelancing. Especially if you are doing at home with your own equipment and software. As long as you aren't taking clients away from them it shouldn't be a big deal.

I wouldn't sign any non-compete contracts either.

[defjoe]

yep i worked for a small agency that told me that as well. they see you as competition and would prefer you bring the client straight to them.

[D-Zine]

its a non-compete thing they usually put in the contract, isn't it?

I haven't experienced this yet at a job but I know many many designers who have.

[defjoe]

I didn't sign any sort of contract they just verbally told me. basically it means if you get something... keep your mouth shut

[D-Zine]

LOL yeah!

My friend worked here in a hand carved candle shop. They taught her all the designs and stuff but when she started there she had to sign a non-compete agreement that basically stated that she couldn not open her own shop like their within so many miles of their shop, for 5 or 7 years (can't remember). Of course when she took that job she had no idea she would make a career of it. She had to go to St. Augustine to open her own shop. Since then she has closed the retail business and moved back here and does strictly mail order and website orders now...and has no storefront even tho she could now.

Kinda the same thing but kinda not I guess...LOL

[Lonepine]

A few years back, I worked at an ad agency where they made me sign a non-compete contract. It basically said that I could not pursue the agencies clients as my own clients for a period of two years after I quit working for the agency. It also stated that I could not do sideline freelance work while employed at the agency unless I informed my employer about my sideline clients. They did not bring up the contract until I had worked with them for about a month so it was a bit of a surprise. It turned out to not be a big deal but other agencies in town have much stricter contracts such as you can't work for another ad agency in town for a certain number of years after you quit.

[Mickey]

It turned out to not be a big deal but other agencies in town have much stricter contracts such as you can't work for another ad agency in town for a certain number of years after you quit.


This would never hold up in court!

[Lonepine]

Those were my thoughts about it too, Mickey.