I currently work full-time and I don't know if I want my current employer to know I am starting my own business - yet. I have a good relationship with my boss but I don't want her to feel like I am going to leave because I am starting my own business. I guess it would be the same thing as having a part-time job. Right? Did you tell your employer about your business before you opened or started marketing (press release, e-mails, postcards, business cards)? Am I over thinking this?ut: What has been your experience?

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Wendy :daisy:

My employer does not know and I don't intend on telling her. If she finds out, I will let her know what I am doing and assure her that it will not interfere with my regular job. If she fires me, I will look at it as a sign that I really need to get going on my business. I plan on leaving this job in May anyway, so I don't really mind if she knows.

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Pam
www.adminetcetera.com

It also depends what your contract of employment says in the UK the contract can specifically say that you are not allowed to "Moonlight" without express permission.

I've worked for a couple of US Banks and it was certainly in their contracts.

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Kittie
Indigo Girl - Your Girl Friday

Originally Posted by indigogirl

It also depends what your contract of employment says in the UK the contract can specifically say that you are not allowed to "Moonlight" without express permission. I've worked for a couple of US Banks and it was certainly in their contracts.

I was in paid employment in the UK when I set up my business and a stipulation of my contract with my employer was that I couldn't take on outside employment without written consent. I had only just started a 3 year contract with them and advised them that I didn't intend ending my contract before it came to an end (September 2009). They were happy enough with that and I carried on my own business outside of company hours.

As it turned out, the job with them didn't work out and I quit whilst still in my probationary period (of 1 year!!) and am now working in my business full time.

Personally, I would find 'the right time' to discuss with your employer and let them know that your intention is to keep your own business outside of their office hours and that it won't interfere with your employment standards. Otherwise, if your employer does find out they may take offence and life could become awkward.

Dawn

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Dawn Lane, Cornwall
www.your-office-online.co.uk

Dawn,
That is how I feel. I wouldn't want my boss to find out about my new business through the grapevine. I will make sure I tell her before I officially launch.

Thanks.

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Wendy :daisy:

Wendy, I worked part-time while doing my VA business and oneday I came to work with my business decal on my car and my boss started acting leary and making little remarks about me wanting to quit. I was planning on leaving anyway but I left sooner than I planned not because of his remarks, because I really hated that job and was waiting for a green light.

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Mary Harris

I'm still working fulltime/parttime....and yes my Boss knows about my business. I wanted to be able to market locally, so felt that I needed to let him know before he found out from someone else. He's been very good to me over the years and now supports my business efforts.

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Deb Frawley
Gem's Virtual Office

Hi Wendy,

Great post! I have been wondering the same thing. I work part time with my employer and I have been trying to work out whether I tell them. I love my job with them and I love that I only have to do 2 days a week and can focus on my business the rest of the time. I get the best of both worlds really.

I want to tell my employer but I am worried that they will see this in a way that I might want to leave (which I won't be for quite some time). I have always been a believer that honesty is the best policy but I am not sure how to approach the subject with them.

Cheers
Nicole

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Little Miss Useful
www.littlemissuseful.com

I approached my Boss by telling him that I wanted to be honest with him about my future plans(he is nearing retirement). I showed him the website I'd started at the time, and explained the details while reassuring him I had no intentions of leaving him before he retires. After explaining things to him, he offered to write me a letter of refererence and he makes a point of asking me every so often how things are going.

Nicole is correct that honesty is the best policy, I was very nervous about telling him and put it off for a long time. There was even a time when I was starting Gem's that I wasn't going to tell him at all. But I realized that I was limiting myself as far as marketing went because of it.

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Deb Frawley
Gem's Virtual Office

My boss actually suggested that I do something like this. He told me that the person we have to do our website works a 9-5 and does websites in her spare time, and he said that with my penchant for graphic design (I'm completely self taught and nothing special, but he LOVES the things I come up with for the company) I could do that.

It is in my contract that I can't take on any additional part time work without discussion, so I will tell him for sure when I get my first client. I'm sure he'd be willing to give me a glowing recommendation, as well, when my contract expires in April.