Questions regarding all things related to employment of people in the company.
306
votes
27answers
138k views
If I'm working at a company, do they have intellectual property rights to the stuff I do in my spare time?
I was interviewed by a lady from Zynga and she told me that Zynga doesn't allow developers to have side projects. Is this true for companies in general, or just a minority that Zynga is a part of? ...
3
votes
1answer
198 views
Example of Agreement (template) with Company for doing stuff in spare time
According to related topic:
If I'm working at a company, do they have intellectual property rights to the stuff I do in my spare time?
(and related : Intellectual Property and Side-Projects in ...
36
votes
13answers
8k views
Using your startup on your resume while job-hunting?
I have a very new solo startup that doesn't make any money (yet...), but it's time to get a "real job" so that I can pay the bills. I'm very proud of the work I did on my startup and think that it ...
6
votes
3answers
3k views
How much in stock options should we offer new employees?
We're a software startup with annual revenue in the ballpark of half a million. We're completely bootstrapped, and have no current plans to take funding. We currently have 4 employees. We're ...
16
votes
14answers
6k views
Should I put my “startup” experience on my resume?
I have a similar question to this one regarding putting your "startup" on your resume. I have a full time job and started a small company on the side. My startup isn't a product company - I've been ...
4
votes
3answers
495 views
Are co-founders employees? Do they need to be paid minimum wage?
If there is a co-founder with 20% equity in the company but no salary, what is his status in the company? Should he be considered an employee? What is the difference between a cofounder and an ...
90
votes
39answers
18k views
What fun and low-cost fringe benefits/perks would you offer to employees?
Let's face it. As startups, we can't really offer top-dollar salaries to our employees. But we can offer some fun benefits that the big companies can't/won't. Here are a few that we have that seem to ...
15
votes
10answers
2k views
Have you seen problems with “unmetered” paid-time-off?
I've never been a fan of counting vacation days, sick days, personal days, or whatever you want to call them. It's irked me to no end that, given X number of paid-time-off days at past jobs, I'd have ...
11
votes
9answers
837 views
Tips for running a virtual office
Having a virtual company empowers you to hire talent anywhere in the world and manage a team of employees using the wonders of modern technology. I have personally worked this way since January and ...
6
votes
15answers
8k views
What PEO providers are out there other than TriNet? What questions should I ask potential PEO providers? [closed]
Looking at PEO (professional employee organization) providers - just wanted to get a sense for who else is out there other than TriNet. I only know about TriNet from Feld's AskTheVC blog: ...
3
votes
1answer
193 views
Intellectual Property and Side-Projects in Western Europe
Joel's answer on "If I'm working at a company, do they have intellectual property rights to the stuff I do in my spare time?" certainly was an interesting read. However, it was pretty much centred ...
6
votes
3answers
5k views
As a member of an LLC, how do I pay myself a salary? 1099 or W-2?
If I am a member of my LLC can I be paid as an employee and be on a payroll? Is this different in each state or is it federally regulated? If our LLC is to have employees do we need a different number ...
4
votes
4answers
669 views
How do I disclose a small startup I created on the side to my employer?
I am a lawyer in a mid-sized law firm and have founded a very small start-up to just sell one legal software program online.
I had the idea for the program, worked with a great software developer ...
1
vote
6answers
855 views
Managing growth in a “private office culture” startup
This question is related to another one, "Ideal office space layout - open or offices?", but I think it's worth a question of its own.
There are many voices advocating that developers have to be in ...
3
votes
3answers
312 views
If I launch a new division within my employer's company, should it be treated as a separate startup?
I've been working for my current employer for the past several years as CTO. I recently pitched them on starting a separate division that is more entrepreneurial and experimental to spin out ...
2
votes
4answers
104 views
Hiring someone as an employee AND contractor
If an employee wanted to clean our buildings above their normal responsibilities, could we hire them as an independent contractor for the cleaning work in addition to them being an employee?
Is there ...
1
vote
3answers
120 views
Can I train a programmer from internal staff?
I have a person on staff who has been doing a lot of admin type work: support, billing, etc. I am thinking that I will want another programmer (PHP/MYSQL/etc) in the next 6-12 months for some new ...
