I don’t recall that there was a written contract, the hours were just assumed on both sides. Even if it had been there wouldn’t have been a issue for me since I wasn’t doing side jobs during normal working hours. Any contention would have originated from them assuming without previous written agreement that they hand an inherent right to control, influence, or even know what I did outside of business hours.
I wasn’t competing with them nor using equipment or information belonging to them for my business. When they found out, they just didn’t like it because it put me less at their mercy, not because I violated any agreements nor used anything belonging to them.
If there is no agreement, there is no problem.