'He’s upset my head might be somewhere else': Boss tries to use worker's hobby of painting miniatures against them

Divulging personal aspects about yourself in the workplace can be a pathway to forming stronger bonds and close-knit relationships—or it can be used against you the next time your performance review comes around. There's really no in-between here, and it depends completely on the culture, environment, and the people you're working with.

The reality is that your work time is for work, and your own time is—well, your own. But, in a modern "always online" world that's fueled by instant communication and where some employers want to squeeze their workers for every last drop of productivity, this line becomes increasingly blurred. Anyone who is already working 50 to 60-hour weeks and fielding communication from superiors, sometimes from three or four steps up the chain, knows exactly the feeling of strangling pressure from that constant weight that's always pressing down upon them. 

In these workplaces, any personal interest a worker has is a threat. For one thing, it's distracting them from spending every waking moment thinking about that sales report that's due next week, and for another thing, it's giving them hope… hope that they might one day leave this place. 

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  • We've seen several discussions online over this topic, and if it's anything to go by, there are quite a lot of employers and managers out there who think any income a worker is making from hobbies or side-hustling is in some way owing to or detracting from "the company." As always, responses to these experiences from other workers always tread somewhere along the line of never sharing your personal life with your workplace. While I see the necessity and line of thinking here, it would be better to land yourself in a less toxic line of work where self-expression isn't used against you. See the original thread as it was shared with Reddit's popular community for workplace discussion, and have a think for yourself. 

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    Font - Posted by u/kader91 9 hours ago My boss recently learned I monetize my hobby and he's upset my head might be somewhere else. I've kept my hobby something that I've only told to a handful of coworkers in the company. Even my boss knew about it. I make custom Warhammer miniatures and I have a YouTube channel. Here's the thing, at some point I began doing little skits at the beginning of my tutorials and the
    via u/kader91
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    Font - news have went nuclear in my company. People laugh behind my back over something they don't understand. Because they're not the target audience. But for the most part, I've been able to silence them when they've learnt how much I earn from each commission. While I don't make any money from videos as of yet they attract new customer interactions. And turns out I'm ever becoming more successful with a waiting list of 7 people.
    via u/kader91
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    Font - But it also has attracted new undesired attention. Recently I've had arguments over my sales performance this year, which was to be expected lower when last year I made a 28% increase in sales from the year prior. But still they've forced me to tell I would increase another 7% this year. Which we all knew it was unlikely, specially if I would take a parental leave. They were setting me up for failure because apparently we can't tell higher ups sales are going to shrink even when we know t
    via u/kader91
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    Font - So 2 days after being scolded, my boss tell me he wants to have lunch with me. And one of the things he brought is how me monetizing my hobby could make higher ups think that I want my future outside the company. And I know exactly whose mouth that bulls came from without even telling me. No sIQ Of course I do! But what I do when I'm not on the clock is none of your business. Like I want to deal with
    via u/kader91
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    Font - people's nonsense for my entire life just to collect the breadcrumps. Last year I brought 400.000$ in benefits just to collect a 10k$ commission. You practically give your entire life to them and it will never be enough. If they have shut their mouths they would have found my best compliant and hardworking side, now they'll only get bare minimum me. FO corporate. It is the cancer of the industry.
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    Font - NatashOverWorld. 9 hr. ago Is he trying to buy your non- working hours? Tell him you charge a lot more for those hours and watch him backpedal. 3.3k phyneas 8 hr. ago Trouble is, employers like this don't have any concept of "non-working hours" for their employees; in their mind, they already own all of their employees' time and resources, period. 657 Reply Share Reply Share NatashOverWorld - 8 hr. ago That's why it's such a good rhetorical device I find. It establishes, they don't own an
    via u/kader91
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    Font - catninjaambush 10 hr. ago Check out competitor roles, play the corporate game. You aren't happy here and you may be able to get a pay rise by jumping ship. Also, great news you are doing well! 742 Reply Share 650REDHAIR. 5 hr. ago Jump ship and don't tell people about your minis passion. 191 Reply Share
    via u/kader91
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    Font - idahononono. 8 hr. ago This reminds me of the new American concept of being "over-employed". It's so asinine that companies are trying to keep you from having more than one employer like they own you, while not paying you enough to exist one one job! I understand not working two jobs simultaneously, or working for a competitor, are really not fair to the person paying you for your best work during your shift. But to try and tell people you cannot have a second job in a different industry
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    Font - BisquickNinja 8 hr. ago · edited 7 hr. ago Oh man, I feel your pain. I'm a part-time jeweler and I usually make statement pieces. I let slip how much I usually make in a year from that and now people think you're off doing this instead of doing your real job. As a senior person in corporate aerospace, they already demand between 45 and 50 hours and would happily ask for 70 to 80 hours if they could. What are your next steps, I hope you are looking for a new position because it looks like
    via u/kader91
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    Font - or trapperstom 7 hr. ago I had a side hustle that made as much money as my primary job, my boss told me to stop, thought about it for a second and said sure no problem, as long as all the other guys stop playing baseball, football, and golf on their spare time. He said mine was a job theirs were sports or hobbies, I simply said my "hobby" makes money, too bad so sad. He then accused me of drumming up business during my regular job. Went around to all my job sites and questioned them wheth
    via u/kader91
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    Font - o WillOfTheGods8787878 hr. ago By the Emperor, might we have the channel? And also frack 'em all, your hours are yours, if they're so worried they should've incentivised the position better. 71 Reply Share
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    Font - anonymous2278 - 8 hr. ago . My ex-boss got uppity about this too. I created a small business when I worked for him, making custom tshirts and vinyl decals. I was mildly successful at it too, I had a fairly steady workflow and was making decent money for a side hustle. At one point I bought a workshop to attempt to separate it from my home and when he found out, he went over the edge. Screamed until his face turned purple, accusing me of trying to make money on his dime and how it was a di
    via u/kader91
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    Font - GravyboatSid. 9 hr. ago Another thing that I don't see people talking about here. Boss scheduled you for a "lunch meeting"? Lunch break is your time. If your boss wants a meeting with you he can book you a meeting during working hours. 57 ↓ Reply Share
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    Font - Nigelthornfruit. 10 hr. ago That's why you don't overshare 70 Reply Share BadAssBlanketKnitter 8 hr. ago . This is the important lesson. Keep your professional and private worlds completely separate, even if it means having a faux hobby that you pretend fills your free time. Reply Share 24
    via u/kader91
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    Font - -tacostacostacos. 8 hr. ago This is why you don't share any personal info at work. Coworkers, and especially management, are not your friends. The risk of your personal info being weaponized is too great. Reply Share 18
    via u/kader91
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    Font - SpaceBus19 hr. ago Your company is afraid of you because you can say no to them. Employers prefer potential employees that can never say no because they absolutely need the job and full time hours. You unknowingly shifted the power balance and your company hierarchy doesn't like that. I think you will always have some tension with your employer moving forward. They will always wonder if you could just walk away, and you will pick up on this with any interactions. Plus your coworkers sound
    via u/kader91
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    Font - PM__me_compliments · 8 hr. ago When it comes to my hobby, I mention nothing at work. I sell BBQ and am well known around town for it. But if it comes up at work? I'm so dumb they are ready to send me back to kindergarten. Boss: "Hey, how was your BBQ this weekend?" Me: "What BBQ?" Boss: "Your brisket, I saw you catering the fair." Me: "Nah, I was at home all weekend." Boss: "Are you sure" Me: takes bite of brisket sandwich made with leftovers "Positive. And I'm a vegetarian." takes second
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    Font - or Vivid-Fondant6513 9 hr. ago As a rule I never talk to employers or any Co- workers about my hobbies, Friends or what I do on my own time, all they need to know is that I'm busy with other activities, too many a$$holes out there will try and snoop into your personal business and try and take that time for themselves. 16 Reply Share
    via u/kader91
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