Director Navigating Conflict of Interest Policies: Insider Tips from a Detroit Recruiter

[finley1991]

Here's a new one! (Well, not so new here in Detroit!)I have a potential who is planning on signing in the next month or two. Actually, she wants to wait until her performance review (April) before she signs because she's afraid if she signs, she won't get her annual raise.At her company, along with some others in my area (automotive mostly), they have their employees sign a conflict of interest statement. If they are salaried (which most are), they can't hold another paying job outside of their main employment or if they do hold another job, they are not eligible for additional compensation. Basically, the companies have their employees by the you-know-whats so they can have them be available to work 24/7 without overtime. I was in a situation like that myself in a previous job, but I wasn't required to sign anything. I worked for them a minimum of 60 hrs a week and was never compensated above my salary.A friend of mine who works for GM wanted to get in to one of the jewelry companies and asked me if I knew a way around it. From what I gather, it's not *really* legal, but people are so desperate to keep their jobs, they're doing anything asked of them.Has anyone had any experience with this?

 

[PCJenni]

I can't see how this can be legal. It also depends on the state because labor laws are different in each state.

 

[Nanisu]

Wow. Labor board time.

 

[Sheila]

Call the local labor board & ask! I've never heard of such a thing in Texas.

 

[finley1991]

Thanks everyone! I'm not sure of the exact wording... knowing how legal departments work, I'm sure it's worded so the companies aren't doing anything illegal per se, but it's discouraging that their employees can't do whatever they want on their own time..!

 

[Nanisu]

"I'm sure it's worded so the companies aren't doing anything illegal per se, but it's discouraging that their employees can't do whatever they want on their own time..!"

Pretty sure they call that slavery....

 

[finley1991]

Pretty sure they call that slavery....

I'm sure they would agree! I referred to it as *being held hostage*...

It's sad but so many are so afraid of losing their jobs no matter what because everything here is so unstable, those with jobs don't want to take any chances. Which I can understand...

 

[cincychef]

I have had a few people say that to me here in Ohio. They are usually very tight lipped about it, but they tell me that their job doesn't allow them to work any other jobs. I was curious about it but like I said they haven't even been willing to tell me where they worked.

 

[pamperedlinda]

just curious - but is "owning your own business" the same as working another job?

 

[finley1991]

just curious - but is "owning your own business" the same as working another job?

The hiccup and how it's defined is *earning income from another source*. It's so bizarre!!

 

[akaskydebil]

I work in HR and I'm pretty sure its legal as long as it was a pre-employment stipulation that they knew they were getting into when they accepted the job. In the HR world we like to say, "Just because it's legal, doesn't make it right." Just like in Pennsylvania we are an "At Will" state so I can technically go into work tomorrow and fire someone just b/c I want to and its legal. Again, not right but legal. Gotta love employment laws and rights.

 

[finley1991]

I can technically go into work tomorrow and fire someone just b/c I want to

LOL!!! How many times have you felt like doing that!!!!

 

[akaskydebil]

LOL!!! How many times have you felt like doing that!!!!

LOL - too many!!!! Trust me, there are MANY "trying" days in the world of HR. So many days I simply say, "I hate people!" hehe