| IANAL, but it’s almost certainly legal, as long as all parties involved adhere to the applicable non-disclosure agreements, non-compete agreements, and intellectual property provisions of their employment contracts. Even then it’s likely to remain a civil matter in most cases. Companies can sue each other for nearly anything, so any level of this behavior could result in a lawsuit. It wouldn’t cross the line into criminality until it involved some fraudulent deception or blatant corporate espionage. For a recent example of that, see the ongoing litigation between Rippling and Deel. (But even that egregious espionage activity remains limited to civil court, at least for now.) |
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| ▲ | wavemode 5 days ago | parent | next [-] | | Can you cite the relevant law? I've never heard of it being illegal in the US to not tell your job that you have another job. | | |
| ▲ | makeitdouble 5 days ago | parent | next [-] | | It's probably not the law (it would be shitty when working at a 7/11 on the weekends to have tolegally disclose all your other income resources) But basic employee contracts cover these aspects, including working in the interest of the company and IP assignments, and usually exclusivity if you're full time. These issues are old as time. | | |
| ▲ | wavemode 5 days ago | parent [-] | | Yeah I'm aware employment contracts might stipulate it. But violating a contract isn't against the law. Worst case you could get sued (though with an employment contract, the limit of repercussions are generally just termination). | | |
| ▲ | makeitdouble 5 days ago | parent [-] | | > violating a contract isn't against the law Being binding is kinda of the whole purpose of a contract. If violating it is void under the law the company should change lawyers. To put your argument under a different angle, there are many written laws you can violate with very limited consequences if any, but they are still laws. Contracts aren't written by the country, and enforcing them is civil matter so there's nuance, but violating an enforceable contract you provably agreed to is against the law. Whether you can get away with it is another question. | | |
| ▲ | codingdave 5 days ago | parent [-] | | There are two types of law. Contracts are civil law. Breaking them does not break criminal law. Civil vs. criminal law has different procedures, different burdens of proof, and different potential consequences. When it comes to contracts, no, there are no "laws", there are agreements between parties that can be enforced if taken to court, and in that sense they are binding. But breaking them does not break any law... it just breaks an agreement. | | |
| ▲ | oasisaimlessly 5 days ago | parent | next [-] | | It's not that simple. https://www.parzfirm.com/blog/when-does-breach-of-contract-b... > When Does a Breach Become Criminal? > For a breach of contract to rise to the level of criminal activity, the act must involve elements of fraud, intent to deceive, or theft. These cases go beyond simple noncompliance with contractual terms—they involve behaviors that violate state or federal laws. Some scenarios where contract breaches may involve criminal activity include: > * Fraudulent intent: If a party enters into a contract without any intention of fulfilling the terms, this may constitute fraud. For instance, accepting payment for services without any intention of delivering. > * Pattern of deceptive behavior: When a party repeatedly breaches contracts with the intent to defraud others or engage in fraudulent schemes, it can elevate the breach to a criminal offense. A pattern of deceptive behavior indicates a systematic intent to deceive and defraud, which may result in criminal charges. | | |
| ▲ | codingdave 4 days ago | parent [-] | | > they involve behaviors that violate state or federal laws. > elevate the breach to a criminal offense. Sounds like it is that simple. If you break a criminal law, then it breaks the law. Otherwise, not. |
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| ▲ | makeitdouble 5 days ago | parent | prev [-] | | The goalpost is moving. 2 posts before: > But violating a contract isn't against the law. Now: > Contracts are civil law. Breaking them does not break criminal law. |
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| ▲ | tough 5 days ago | parent | prev | next [-] | | and what if you don't work there or have a salary but happen to own some equity? | |
| ▲ | lukan 5 days ago | parent | prev [-] | | Not really without researching(also I am european and might have assumed wrong about US), but something with conflict of interest? Especially if another company ordered you to work for someone else. If all is disclosed, probably fine, but undisclosed? Definitely would not work in europe. Breach of trust etc. |
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| ▲ | jameshart 5 days ago | parent | prev | next [-] | | Not sure it falls foul of broader laws, but it almost certainly breaches your employment contract, which likely includes something about following the policies of your employer; that policy (in many companies you likely have to go through onboarding training and annual refreshers on it) probably includes a code of employee conduct that has specific mention of conflicts of interest. | |
| ▲ | 5 days ago | parent | prev [-] | | [deleted] |
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