Comments on: Employer won’t let me make websites as a hobby/freetime and now I got laid off? http://larry-perry.com/2010/02/16/employer-wont-let-me-make-websites-as-a-hobbyfreetime-and-now-i-got-laid-off/ Fri, 03 Sep 2010 21:34:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: LoverOfWine http://larry-perry.com/2010/02/16/employer-wont-let-me-make-websites-as-a-hobbyfreetime-and-now-i-got-laid-off/comment-page-1/#comment-254 LoverOfWine Tue, 16 Feb 2010 02:42:59 +0000 http://larry-perry.com/2010/02/16/employer-wont-let-me-make-websites-as-a-hobbyfreetime-and-now-i-got-laid-off/#comment-254 I understand your problem, our old company used to do that until we started scratching out that part of the agreement. Stopping a developer from developing didn't make sense. Also, we found out many non-compete clauses are not enforceable for many of the reason you state. Even a signed non-compete must have a limit of 6 months, or year maximum. They cannot stop you from creating your own websites as a hobby as that is not competing. You are not doing it for money. Certainly if you are not following their "style" of web design (look and feel) you should be ok. Bottom line, check your local yellow pages or government services for free legal counsel and discuss it with them. If you don't have a copy of the agreement then ask for it from your company - they cannot refuse to allow you to have a copy. You say that they used outdated technologies, then use this time to use newer technologies and tools. Experiment and broaden your horizons.<br><b>References : </b><br> I understand your problem, our old company used to do that until we started scratching out that part of the agreement. Stopping a developer from developing didn’t make sense.

Also, we found out many non-compete clauses are not enforceable for many of the reason you state. Even a signed non-compete must have a limit of 6 months, or year maximum.

They cannot stop you from creating your own websites as a hobby as that is not competing. You are not doing it for money. Certainly if you are not following their "style" of web design (look and feel) you should be ok.

Bottom line, check your local yellow pages or government services for free legal counsel and discuss it with them. If you don’t have a copy of the agreement then ask for it from your company – they cannot refuse to allow you to have a copy.

You say that they used outdated technologies, then use this time to use newer technologies and tools. Experiment and broaden your horizons.
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]]> By: ★ http://larry-perry.com/2010/02/16/employer-wont-let-me-make-websites-as-a-hobbyfreetime-and-now-i-got-laid-off/comment-page-1/#comment-253 ★ Tue, 16 Feb 2010 02:32:59 +0000 http://larry-perry.com/2010/02/16/employer-wont-let-me-make-websites-as-a-hobbyfreetime-and-now-i-got-laid-off/#comment-253 It *is* stupid, but if you signed a non-compete, it's what you agreed to. I would review what you signed carefully; something created just "for fun" and not for profit might be okay. It is a contract, however, and you have to comply with its terms.<br><b>References : </b><br> It *is* stupid, but if you signed a non-compete, it’s what you agreed to. I would review what you signed carefully; something created just "for fun" and not for profit might be okay. It is a contract, however, and you have to comply with its terms.
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