Prepressforums.com

prepress_brillance_43 · #1 (**permalink**) 04-14-2006, 02:35 PM

As a full time prepress operator, ethical or unethical to do freelance design work??... Lets hear your opinion and what makes that opinion..

mine: Ethical, as long as:

1. The customer didnt call the shop and say "I would like to get such and such designed, but rather called YOUR personal cell or home phone and said I hear you do Graphic Design, could you design me a..."

2. The design work is done on your OWN equipment, at your OWN home, on your OWN time. Staying after hours, off the clock but still using production CPUs and Software isnt rightly ethical, even though you are "off the company's clock". This becomes ethical with expressed written permission from the owner of the equipment, not the manager.

3. The design customer is not a CURRENT or PREVIOUS customer of the shop you work for, just because they call you "outside" of work doesnt make that right.

4. The company doesnt have a written policy in their bylaws/guidelines prohibiting moonlighting.

so let's hear what you other "crossbreeds" out there have to add... thanks folks..

prepress_goddess · #2 (**permalink**) 04-14-2006, 03:16 PM

I'm having pretty good success being a crossbreed - i have a lot of clients that give me work that is not do-able at the shop i currently work at. I have many contacts in my city and just handle the design end of the jobs. I recommend various printers/production houses for them to get bids on.

My current shop offers 10% commission on jobs brought in, but says he doesn't want the shop to become an advertising/graphic design house. needs my time spent polishing turds for our presses.

So, word of mouth spreads and i pick up 1 or 2 new clients every month.

tbJAMMIN · #3 (**permalink**) 04-14-2006, 07:24 PM

as long as your company allows moonlighting with all or some of the accounts, it is definitely Ethical.

The problem is that it is IMMORAL. The things you have to put up with when dealing with publishers will make your skin crawl.....Lies, Late nights, no discernable sense of deadlines or even the concept of deadlines.... It's a horrible thing to do to yourself.

pmkprog · #4 (**permalink**) 04-15-2006, 01:29 PM

It's ethical as long as you follow certain guidelines.

I put in bids at several printers to do some work. The one that I work at wasn't the best price, I had to go with the best price on the project due to limited budget, It's not like I don';t try to find work for the places I work for.

Mikie · #5 (**permalink**) 04-18-2006, 08:39 AM

Ethical with the guidelines you listed. I would probably be OK however doing it for a previous customer of my employer(Item 3), once they become previous customers, they are fair game. And unless I get paid hourly 24/7 by my employer, I do as I please once I clock out for the day.

ihateprepress · #6 (**permalink**) 05-29-2006, 01:59 AM

100% ethical if you use your own gear (or get permission to use works gear) and aren't sniping your company's business.

I encourage freebies and beer jobs when the work has dried up. Doesn't happen often, but when it does, they can do as they please. Surf the net, do freebies, download porn, whatever.

I love the odd cash-job, as it means I've got some cash to splash on something stupid - like golf clubs that I never have time to use, or a mirror for the spare room I never go in.

Viper · #7 (**permalink**) 06-02-2006, 07:26 AM

Any arrangements you make on your own time and do not undermine the company you're working for, are no one else's business.

People know when thier intent is no longer maintaining a "Good Faith Effort" to be ethical to their employer.

Making money on the side from someone (besides your employer) who needs your services is what capitalism is about.

Completely Ethical.

GGraham · #8 (**permalink**) 06-13-2006, 04:18 AM

I feel that the point on which the ethical question balances is whether or not you are in competition with your place of employment. When I worked at a golf scorecard manufacture, then about anything I did out side did not compete with their business. When I worked for a commercial shop, I specialized in laying out print-on-demand books. The commercial shop had no interest in working on 256 page books for 150 copies.
ggraham

Lorem_Ipsum · #9 (**permalink**) 09-07-2006, 01:59 PM

I'll do the odd graphic job, but I do it at home and use my own stuff.

As I have my own clients, there is no conflict of interest.

The benefits of freelancing is keeping creative and technical skills sharp. Also, recommending my workplace to the client for their printing needs.

Oh yes, the company I work for prints my work at a discount, so I think freelancing can be a win-win situation.