- #31
rolerbe
- 103
- 3
Had a friend who worked at a Harley plant, but rode a Honda. Eventually the politely asked him not to ride it to work.
Purchasing a product made by your company's competitor
- Thread starter hammertime
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Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around the legality and ethics of companies forbidding or penalizing employees from purchasing products made by competitors. It explores various scenarios and implications within the context of employment laws, particularly in the US and Australia, while considering the potential motivations behind such policies.
Discussion Character
- Debate/contested
- Conceptual clarification
- Technical explanation
Main Points Raised
- Some participants suggest that companies cannot legally forbid employees from purchasing competitor products unless explicitly stated in an employment contract.
- Others argue that while companies may not have the authority to prevent purchases, they can create an environment that encourages employees to buy their own products through discounts.
- A few participants mention that employment laws in different regions, such as Australia, may prohibit such uncompetitive practices.
- Some contributions highlight that while companies can impose rules about product use during work hours, they cannot control personal purchases outside of work.
- There are humorous anecdotes shared about the social implications of employees driving competitor cars or using competitor products, suggesting a cultural aspect to brand loyalty within companies.
- One participant notes that companies often promote their products to employees at discounted rates to foster loyalty.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants generally agree that companies cannot legally prevent employees from purchasing competitor products, but there are differing views on the extent of control companies can exert over employee behavior and the motivations behind such policies. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the legality and ethical implications of such practices.
Contextual Notes
Limitations include varying interpretations of employment laws across different jurisdictions and the lack of specific legal references to support claims made by participants. The discussion also reflects personal opinions and experiences rather than established legal standards.
- #32
rolerbe
- 103
- 3
What a *Borek said:
- #33
Santa1
- 111
- 0
Why would a company fire an able employee based on him buying the wrong game console?
Are Microsoft that "aggressive"?
Are Microsoft that "aggressive"?
- #34
Moonbear
Staff Emeritus
Science Advisor
Gold Member
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hammertime said:
How would they know you owned it? Seriously. This isn't like a car you drive to work and park in the company lot, it's something you'd buy on your own time and keep in the privacy of your own home. You might not want to brag about it at work, and wouldn't want to have it delivered to the office, perhaps, but no reason you can't have it at home. If they're tracing your credit card purchases and snooping through your house, you have bigger problems than your job being on the line.
Though, from Microsoft's history, I'd be more inclined to think they'd encourage owning and using the competitor's product so you can figure out what good features it has, what makes it tick, and how to copy them into their own product without patent infringement.
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