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WORK & MONEY

Jaynee: No it's not unethical to look for another job. If you communicate to your company that you are looking to switch jobs, what's to keep them from firing you before you are ready to leave? It's much easier to fill a position from an employer standpoint than it is to GET a position from an employee standpoint. Conviction should overpower guilt. If you feel the conviction to leave your job, you should do everything in your power to find a better one. No guilt should come anywhere NEAR you while you search. You work for PERSONAL happiness, not the COMPANY'S happiness. If YOU aren't happy, then move on. Because the company will keep on going long after you are gone.

khurt: I have been working now for only two years. Since I am a major expense for my company, and my company's goal is to minimize expense and maximize profit, we are operating at odds. With all the downsizing and overwork of remaining employees that I have seen in those two years I have concluded that most companies couldn't care less what happens to these "expenses" after they are eliminated. I have no guilt networking for jobs on company time.

povod: The two questions are not mutually exclusive. In today's job climate, it may well be appropriate to look for a new position while still employed. But, the employer is not paying for your job search, unless it provides "out placement" services. A reasonable position, that does not require breaking rules, or making up rules as you go along: Only those in incidental activities (to the extent that other private business is tolerated) should job search activities be pursued. That probablay means nothing more than an occasional and unavoidable phone call (not at the employer's expense).
Aside from the ethics, there are practical reasons for concern. If a new employer knows, or senses, that you are engaging in job-search activities on your current employer's time, what does that tell him/her about what kind of worker he may be hiring? Also, if your current employer finds out, your misappropriation of company resources may provide an excuse for discharge, except that the discharge would be "for cause."That may make a difference to future employers, to unemployment compensation elligibility, etc.

GolfGizmo: Yes, it's unethical. Everyone does it, and they use verbal excuses to justify it. It's wrong, but, sometimes it can't be helped. Most people don't have the ability to miss a payday, so they have to look while still working. I think it's a good question to ask people if you're the one doing the interview - "Are you seeking employment with us while on company time from your current employer?" If yes, they will do it again. Yes, it's wrong.

moneyman: Employers show very little loyalty to their workers -- so your obligation is to yourself, not them. You may think of companies as paternal figures, but that era died out when IBM began dumping workers and the President of the USA said "get lost" to all of the air traffic controllers.

liswell: There is nothing unethical about looking for a job while under employment by another company. But it is unethical to be doing anything that is not productive or not assisting productivity while on the company time.
By being employed with a company, you are making a pact that you will do work for them in return for some form of compensation, such as a paycheck. Looking for another job on company time is the ethical equivalent of goofing off on company time, or stealing stationary, or embezzling money.
Either way you are taking the company's money, without giving them something in return. Now does being employed by a company require complete loyalty? -- That is another question.

GrandAdmiralPetry: 1. When you feel it's right to consider moving-on, best do so quickly, and not dally (testing the waters takes an instant, not a bath).

2. Companies have varies strict policies for using company hours for anything, even for going to the Post Office to buy stamps. So ask you supervisor whether you may take some time during the day to run an errand.

3. Then again, are you improving your product? or improving your job? What are you doing to upgrade your own 'server' on your 'network'?!

4. When you consider the overview of a century, the people you once knew will have been as strangers passing a place together: will you leave when they can't go on with you? When you can't go together? When you can't go with them? You know your own progress well! See to it.

Briana_: Hmm. If she had free time and would have otherwise been reading or writing something other than company related material, then "No!" it's not unethical. If she was not doing her job at the time to take extra time out to take care of finding a new job... well it's a bit unethical, IMHO. But what they hey... if you find a better job I suppose it won't matter what the people left behind say, right?! *smirk* *Cough*

eddyf: It is never unethical to look for work unless you are using proprietary information from your present position to do so. Most employers don't want people working for them who aren't ambitious and forward-thinking. I keep my employees happy by offering the chance to grow and change within the group; new challenges and and variety are important to an indivdual's growth.

pawlo: I think it's unethical to use the time you're supposed to focus on corporate issues for job searching. It's better to take some time off and do some serious job research. By the way, if you consider changing jobs, do it immediately.

Airdancer: If the employee has already done her work and she is shopping for a job out of company time, I think it's okay. Usually, I am not allowed much time outside, so I think it's quite difficult to go for a job interview. Only lunch-time is considered free-time. But you may not want to do that if you're lunching with colleagues, as the management might get to hear it nd give you the sack earlier! Basically, if the company is not treating you well enough, you should find a better place. It's up to the employer to make the company a good working place so that job-hopping is minimized.

jcwix: Unethical at a convention? I don't think so! It sounds like her employer believes that she owes her soul to them just because they are (presumably) paying for her lodging and meals at the convention. If you agree with that, then take a vacation day to look for a job! Your time is yours and you are just selling some of it to your employer. If you feel they got what they paid for today, make a couple of phone calls. If not, then work late to make up for it. It is never a good idea to let anyone, especially your Supervisor or Manager, know that you are looking for another job. They might decide that since they have to cut the budget they might as well let you go. After all, you are going to leave anyway! Good Luck!

Applecheeks: Networking has been going on for a loooong time, so she should not feel guilty for becoming part of it! Most companies are NOT loyal to their workers anymore, so why should workers be loyal to them...it's a two way street, and one of these days when companies have to go begging for "loyal employees", maybe things will change again.

tondeb: If you have a good job and your boss is treating you right, then I do not think that you should be using the boss's time to look for work -- but if you feel that you are in a dead end and can't get out, go for the new job and don't worry about whose time it is. You boss probably won't miss you anyway.

P2: With the constant downsizing of business (so the CEO can have a million dollar bonus), why should it be unethical to look for a job while on the payroll?? When they consider you at all, the beancounters and upper management decide when you go. So don't worry about it -- they don'y give a XXXX about you and you better believe that there is no loyalty to employees. So why should there be any loyalty to the corporate greed??? Look, find, and leave when YOU like.

ynotirodurp: I guess a lot of it depends on exactly which company time you mean. I would draw the line at making calls and sending faxes from my workplace, but at a professional development session or similar conference, all's fair.

ysenapat: Do you follow the law in letter or spirit ? If you are talking "letter" law, then it is unethical to look for job during your work time. But, it is the spirit of it all. If I have worked sincerely for the present company and they decided to take me off, I think it is reasonable to expect them to give me time to look for another job. I have changed my job once and my boss actually told me that the company is downsizing and that it would help me if I find another job in the next 2-3 months.

jmccarty: Yes, it is probably unethical; however, when you work a lot of unpaid overtime, you lose your sense of loyalty to your current company. Plus, when you donate so much of your free time to work, it is impossible to look for a job except during work hours. The days of being able to take a day or two off work and find a new job in that time span are long gone.

Marsaya: Looking for a job while currently employed is only unethical if you try to hide what you're doing. At present, I am looking for a new position and my current employer is totally aware. Of course, our department is facing potential layoffs, and my boss may simply prefer to lose somebody by attrition rather than have to release someone. If you are consciensious about your time (limit any job-searching to normal personal time), then there's nothing wrong with searching.