Ask HN: Does anyone take the risk to work on private projects from workplace?

jacquesm · on Sept 30, 2009

> Should I take the risk?

No.

> does anyone take this risk?

Quite probably yes, but that doesn't make it right, or smart.

Is there any way you can work 1 day per week part-time and devote that to your private stuff or do it after hours ?

If you get fired from your day job you'll have all the time in the world but that probably wasn't what you had in mind.

Also, technically your employer would own what you made, so it really isn't a good idea.

If it isn't possible, it isn't possible, but I'm pretty sure that that is just a matter of degree, I'm sure there is at least a 1/2 hour per day or maybe a Sunday morning early when you can work on your own stuff.

Or maybe at night?

But you'll have to learn how to do with less sleep, and that's not for everyone.

HeyLaughingBoy · on Sept 30, 2009

First, let me say that I agree it's usually a bad idea.

But...

Not everyone works as a software developer and there are many jobs where coding while you work isn't a detriment to doing a good job. Any job where workers bring in books & magazines to pass the time is a candidate here. I knew someone who was a plant engineer at a water treatment plant. His job consisted basically of being onsite in case there was an emergency. And he managed to bang out a nifty niche application while working there, along with upgrades! (not surprisingly, the app was based on automated monitoring of process systems...) His boss simply didn't care, since he had done that job himself and knew that it really didn't require much attention.

So: generally not a good idea, but in some specific instances it can work out OK.

jacquesm · on Sept 30, 2009

You're absolutely right. But when the OP stared about 'keyloggers' and stuff like that I assumed a technical environment comparable to the stuff he'd be doing for himself.

Bad assumption, I should have asked. Thanks for pointing it out.

ErrantX · on Sept 30, 2009

Also, technically your employer would own what you made, so it really isn't a good idea.

If you work for a big corporate it is worth checking your contract too. Often an employer makes claims over your private projects out of work if they are in the same field as your day job.

gdp · on Sept 30, 2009

Keyloggers are unlikely to be particularly useful in this case, but if you imagine you are being keylogged, then you can take appropriate steps to mask your behaviour.

Other than that, I would advise sshing somewhere remote and keeping all of your private project stuff there (i.e. work on it remote - don't keep local copies).

mrfish · on Sept 30, 2009

Or if your lazy and a web programmer you can do everything through a portable app on a USB key. www.portableapps.com including a web server. Thus giving you the power to work on stuff without the pain of moving it everytime you leave work.

yannis · on Sept 30, 2009

As an employer I would say bad idea. If your employer does not pay you your last salary you will claim that he stole money from you. By working on a private project at work you are actually stealing money from him.

Late nights were made for private jobs!

nooloop · on Sept 30, 2009

That might be overly simplistic. The three issues I see are:

1) Company hardware. Don't use theirs since it's unethical without permission, and even with permission, your employment contract might give them rights to your work.

2) Time. Just because you're in the office doesn't mean you are on their time, but if you are, then that's unethical too.

3) Space. If you've satisfied the first two conditions, it seems like little harm is done and little risk assumed by working on your own laptop on your own time while in the office.

Lastly, I'd worry more about network monitoring than keystroke loggers. If you attach your laptop to their network, you're still using their company resources to do your work.

byoung2 · on Sept 30, 2009

You could try some of the techniques in Tim Ferriss's 4 Hour Workweek. Basically it involves negotiating a deal to work from home 1 day a week to start, and eventually fulltime. Make sure you are more efficient on this day off than the other 4 days. He suggests hiring a virtual private assistant to handle the more trivial aspects of your job, for a few dollars an hour.

While you are "working from home" you can work on your side projects. Even if you don't hire a virtual assistant, you'll save plenty of time without the distractions of work (water cooler talk, commute time, etc), that you should have an extra 10-20 hours a week.

jacquesm · on Sept 30, 2009

But with a wife & kid around the 'distractions of work' will be replaced with the 'distractions of home'.

Tichy · on Sept 30, 2009

Get a better paid job. As a consultant, you could work a couple of months for clients and the rest of the year on your own stuff.

Personally I think working on the job is a bad idea. usually it will give your employer the rights to your private project.

mrfish · on Sept 30, 2009

Get a better paid job? The year 2000 is calling and it want's it's reality bubble back.

Tichy · on Sept 30, 2009

Developers were still in high demand after the year 2000.

lhorie · on Sept 30, 2009

Why not just get a laptop and go out to the nearest coffee shop / library / whatever?

edifusya · on Sept 30, 2009

That's a very good idea. Will be useful I think only after the day has ended right?

mrfish · on Sept 30, 2009

Yup. I'm doing it right now.