Advice
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- Dublao7
For the past 7 years I have worked for HATWORLD/LIDS http://www.lids.com I started my job in high school and worked my way up to my current position as senior in-house designer.
A few years ago I started to get fed up with the low level of pay I was receiving from Lids. I've put in some solid years of really hard work including traveling which cost me more than one semester of school. My job security was at an all-time high, yet I was still considered "the kid," (or tiger, sport, you name it).
I put together a portfolio online to list a few examples of the work I've done over the years. My boss had no problem with this, even offering to help write copy to describe the financial impact my work has. In February, I partnered with a few close friends under the same moniker as said portfolio. Things took off quite well. We seem to be filling a gap here in Indianapolis. I decided to leave Lids to work full-time towards my dream. However, the guys at Lids didn't want me to go. I felt appreciated and overwhelmed when they offered to meet my expectations in pay. These guys have been awesome to work for and have really made up for any flaws in the past.
This is where your advice is needed. I will admit that my problem was totally brought on by myself. Lids was portrayed as a client instead of an employee online. An executive asked us to change this and we wholeheartedly agreed it was necessary, asking if it was okay to reword the site so the public would understand the true relationship. He agreed this was a solution and we planned to have the site changed over the weekend. We could still display the Lids creative I made as long as it was clear that I was employed full time while I made it.
Today I was given my first ever written warning of misconduct. They stated that the company is a conflict of interest, and that we will never be able to display the work Ive done for the past 7 years or so. You can imagine this is a pretty large blow to my portfolio and ego. I've left the work up under type on the site. Go there and you will see what I'm talking about. Does anyone have advice on how to smooth things over and still display my work?
Portfolio is at http://www.abeautifulquestion.co…
- k0na_an0k0
2 portfolios.
1 for everyone to see without the lids work.
the other a hidden link you only send to clients and have on your business cards and shit.
i've had to do that before.
sucky situation man. you'll get through it.
- harlequino0
What k0na said.
And, did you get a lot of hats?
- MrD0
does your employee contract say you cant display work that are sanctioned not public use?
if you still work there, than i would not put it up. esp if you got a written warning. if you continue to do so with the warning you are treading in to legal bounds that will have impact in employment status and also law suit for intellectual property
- visualplane_0
I think I went blind from reading the whole post.
- Dublao70
I think you're right K0na,
this is what I will do. Thanks
- MrD0
dubalo
becareful with 2nd link, even if you are sending it to client, it becomes public domain
- cram0
sticky situation. if you are keeping the job, i would probably take the work down. if you are leaving, keep it up. you did it right?
did you sign any kind of non disclosure? as an employee, it is as though the company did the work legally. still, he is a jerk to not let you display it. write the descriptions so that it is clear that you were an employee, maybe that will make him happy...
- Dublao70
I will take the work down today. I do agree that this makes it seem like they are a client. This is a flaw in the design of the site. We were planning on launching a new version this weekend. Now they're saying that's not good enough, and my involvement is questionable.
I never signed a non-disclosure or any contract. I don't want to piss these people off at all. I agree that we should list the fact the work was completed whilst employed full-time. But, they don't seem to think that's enough.
I was hoping that because I created everything from coneption to completion that they would not have the right to tell me to take it down (as long as the situation was illuminated).
- PonyBoy0
if you're still working there... then yeah... take it down...
... you can't promote the work for one company to make money for the other WHILE still employed... else you'd owe Lids a kickback of the new company's take...
... if you quit... you shouldn't have any issue displaying 'your portfolio' of past work from past employers.
If you were looking for a new job... then you'd be in a tough spot and I'd say that you only share the work w/the next possible employer as a part of your portfolio presentation at an interview... but not online unless you had already left the job.
- Dublao70
great advice, I think I now have a broader view of the situation. Thanks.
- cram0
if you were a contractor, then the work is yours... the design that is. technically, if you are a contractor, you still own the design and if they print future versions, they have to pay you.
if you were an employee or under a "work for hire" contract, the work is theirs as if they did it themselves. in this case they can tell you exactly what you can and cannot do with it... including to never display it.
the difference between a contractor and employee is sticky... if they told you when to work and where to work, probably you were legally an employee. if you worked on your own schedule, you might be a contractor. if you used their equipment and software, you might be an employee. if they did not pay worker's comp and such for you, you might be a contractor... complicated i know.