Re: work contracts inquiry

wow!  what are your other choices? Are jobs hard to find around there? The 
language seems a tad tight.  I suppose one can make the case that they pay 
for the training and that you do all your reading and experimenting on 
company time and never do any thing on your own clock? 

My reaction is, you were hired under a set of rules.  They would like to 
reopen negotiations about job rules.  Hey, maybe it's worth it?  Is this a 
good chance to reopen wage scales and performance bonuses?


_______________________
Booth Martin
Booth@MartinVT.com
http://www.MartinVT.com
_______________________




"Shadrach Scott" <shadrachscott@earthlink.net>
Sent by: owner-midrange-l@midrange.com
10/02/2000 03:44 PM
Please respond to MIDRANGE-L

 
        To:     <MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com>
        cc: 
        Subject:        work contracts inquiry
 
I work for a small firm and just a few months ago we merged with a couple 
of other companies. The new parent company is coming to us and 'asking' us 
to sign this very detailed no competition contract. The original company 
had a simple contract that seemed very reasonable to me that requested 
that we did not sell services on the side to the companies customers 
during and for a year after employment.
 
The new contract contains that same type of language plus a portion 
labeled inventions; That basically says if you create anything, even on 
your own time during employment and for 6 months after employment the 
rights to that invention belongs to them. Which basically I am 
understanding to say, if I create a palm pilot app to keep track of 
expense reports on the side I am obligated to send the code to them and 
they have the right to sell or distribute the app. Is this practice common 
in the computer industry? The contract states that even if you have an 
idea that may be paten-able you are to put it in writing and submit it to 
the company.
 
This policy seems kind of harsh and I even feel discouraged to play or 
even dream on my own time and learn new tools, because if I create a 
little new app I don't really own it or if I want to go into business for 
my self I can't do it with a new idea because that would belong to them.
 
Shadrach 
 


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