First, Thank you!!! All the comments were great and forced me to rethink. I think i will modify the employee handbook and add this section
PERSONAL PROJECTS
You may do personal projects using the equipment, and shop. Here are the rules to do this:
- All project must be requested and approved. The form to do this is below.
- occasional personal projects “not for profit” like fixing your car, a banner for a birthday, a set of address numbers for the house, are generally not a problem.
- Projects involving a customer.
If the project could be seen as in competition with the company, it will not be approved
If this is a job the company would bid on, the job should go through the normal process and get an employee discount.
If it is a paid project that is not of interest to the company, it may be approved, but there is a small charge to cover equipment wear, and utilities.
All material must be paid for or scrap be approved by the owner
All work areas must be left clear after use and/or at the start of the next shift
If you break a consumable tool (end mill, drill bits, small hand tools) you pay for. If it is a larger maintenance issue, I will cover it.
No side jobs get priority. Company jobs go first.
The approval form with the legal statement is attached. Basically my thinking is this: If it helps the employee and does not harm me - I am OK with it. I need to stop and materials "walking away" and protect myself from an insurance point of view. I also can not tolerate projects that are competitive to the business. On the other hand, I do not care if a guy makes a $100 on the side - It is a perk that might keep a good employee here. So this is where I am landing
personal project approval form.docx