When setting up a new business, many VAs continue in their full-time or part-time jobs until such time they feel they can leave and work in their own business full-time. However, this means there are occasions when they feel they need to respond to email, answer calls or go out during their regular business hours to attend to something relating to their new growing business. In doing so, however, does this mean they are crossing the line? They certainly could be and ethics plays a strong part here.
This very topic was raised recently at Smart Company’s website at their Agony Aunt column. A well-meaning employer wrote in because of someone who had crossed the line and he did have cause for concern.
When you are on your employer’s time you do need to respect that and not do anything that could be misconstrued as operating your business on time that is paid for by an employer. Do not push the boundaries otherwise you may find yourself pushed out of their door before you are ready to make the move yourself.
You should not be promoting your business, taking calls from clients, or handling your own business needs during paid working hours from an employer. If you do need to respond to calls or emails, do it during your lunch break, and preferably outside of your employer’s premises. People are always watching – your boss, your colleagues and others who have contact with you. If they consider you are not doing the right thing while in a ‘job’ what would they think about you in your own business?
Read the Agony Aunt column and make a decision for yourself – what do you think should be done? KMT
crossing the line, agony aunt, virtual business, starting a business, virtual assistant, employees, employer
Ros Null says
Kathie,
I have a friend who was in the start-up phase with her business, things at her full time job were slow and she felt that redundancy was imminent because of this. Her employer intercepted an email from my friend to her sister asking her opinion on the site she was building and she was fired on the spot.
She has since tried and failed to get unemployment benefits and now truly regrets doing anything related to her VA business during business hours. Unfortunately it is too late. She does not have the capital to go it alone just yet, and so is forced to take a new full time position for a while.
Starting your VA business while still working full-time can certainly be done. You just need to work all the after-hours hours that you have. (It’s really good practice for soloprenurship, I have been in business for a year and still find myself working over weekends and evenings.)
Kathie Thomas says
So sorry to hear of your friend’s experience. When I was starting it was before email and I think that provides an even greater temptation because it’s so readily available.
It’s a hard lesson to learn but hopefully it will make your friend even more determined to get her business up and running quickly so she doesn’t have to be in another job for too much longer.
I agree about the evenings – here I am at my computer late at night, busy blogging!