can my boss sack me for starting my own business on the side?
July 31, 2009 by admin
Filed under Be Your Own Boss
i started a decking and fencing business on my own at weekends now my boss has found out he wants me to stop or resign.
i think only if it effects the work you do for him or if it is a conflict of interest. if you work for his company and it does the same or similar work, it’s a conflict of interest. you could be taking his customers.
only if it interferes with your job, or if you do side business while on your job, including calls, faxes, etc.
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Check your employment contract. You need to know more about your situation before you take any action. Good Luck!
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i think only if it effects the work you do for him or if it is a conflict of interest. if you work for his company and it does the same or similar work, it’s a conflict of interest. you could be taking his customers.
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Maybe, it depends on several things, your state laws, your employment contract (if you have one) any conflict of interest (is this the same business as your job) is your current job an at will employment? Best bet is to ask a lawyer if you get fired.
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He can, if:
1) Your side business puts you in competition with the company, even peripherally. For example, if you work for a construction company or someplace like Lowe’s or Home Depot. Granted, that would be stretching the definition of "competition" quite a bit, but it would be something your boss could legitimately get uppity over.
2) You’re doing stuff for your side business using company time and/or resources, like the first answerer said.
On the other hand, if your side business is totally unrelated to what your company does, and you’re really REALLY careful about keeping your side business separate from your work, your boss doesn’t have a leg to stand on and if he decides to fire you he would be fair game for legal action on your part.
All of the above is speculation on my part (albeit fairly well-informed speculation), so to find out for sure what the ramifications of your situation are, you should consult a lawyer who’s got some expertise in labor issues. Good luck with your business!
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