[sackfield]

I've never really understood the opposition to this besides non-competes et al. Ultimately I think work should be about delivery of a product or service not time spent, and if an enterprising person can deliver a business a product or service and at the same time deliver something else for another business, why shouldn't they be able to?

I've always noticed this disturbing tendency in some people to assume that since they employed you they own your entire life. I think they need to adjust their attitudes.

[imbnwa]

Do consultant contracts tend to impose these contraints?

[Nextgrid]

Contracts are on case-by-case basis but generally no. On the other hand, that's why so many companies do not want to hire contractors even when the task is well-suited for such an arrangement. They want a butt in a chair financially dependent on them first, and the deliverable second (if at all).

Disclaimer: contractor so my response might be obviously biased.