HR Magazine quotes Isobel Goodman on second jobs and HR obligations
As the cost of living crisis continues to squeeze employees, second jobs are on the up.
HR Magazine speaks to Isobel Goodman, Associate in our Employment team, on all things second jobs, HR obligations and contractual terms.
HR Magazine explains that second jobs can range from ‘moonlighting’, typically a second job done in secret and after normal working hours, to side hustles, which are generally freelance or piecework in nature, providing a supplemental income. Some employees have even been known to work two full-time jobs at once.
Isobel comments:
“The influx of multiple jobs is driven by the cost of living crisis and it’s something we’ve seen for a while. However, it’s important to distinguish between when this is permitted under an employee’s contract and when it's a matter of employer discretion.
“In some contracts, there might be a term prohibiting a second job, but some contracts have a term which allows employees to take on additional employment, with a caveat that they may need to notify the employer or get consent from the employer to do so.”
Isobel adds:
“If employers are allowing second jobs, there is no one size fits all policy. However, it is much better to encourage an open and honest culture to limit the HR risks that could arise. A situation when an employee is working a second job in secret is the most likely to cause a disciplinary issue or breach of the Working Time Regulations.”
Read the full piece in HR Magazine here.
