Those of you with Multiple Jobs

Vita · 14 Sep 2013 at 14:43

Hi,

I have a question for those who have multiple jobs (2 or 3 Jobs). Do you work for competitors? For example, say you work for a large supermarket chain, do you also work for another large supermarket chain? Is that even allowed?

Or are your jobs totally different and you just earn a little bit of pocket money on the side.

I ask as I've had to cut some hours since moving, and have time for a second job now.

Just looking to see what's available to me, but work is rather scarce after trawling the internet for local jobs near me.

Captain · 14 Sep 2013 at 14:53

You don't have to tell your current employer about your second job, as long as it doesn't affect your contracted hours in your first job.

What do you do now?

Goodie · 14 Sep 2013 at 14:56

I work 3 jobs at the moment (albeit two of which are separate contracts at the same employer), both jobs tie in quite nicely with each other and I have even helped to create some working links between the two. I've been rather fortunate though.

As for your situation, I guess it all depends on the sector that you are working in..?

BDEE · 14 Sep 2013 at 14:57

Clov!s said:
You don't have to tell your current employer about your second job, as long as it doesn't affect your contracted hours in your first job.

What do you do now?

That might not be true - it depends on who the OP works for and what their contract states. Many employers have terms in contracts to sanction any second job in terms of suitability and not working for competitors.

semi-pro waster · 14 Sep 2013 at 15:00

Clov!s said:
You don't have to tell your current employer about your second job, as long as it doesn't affect your contracted hours in your first job.

What do you do now?

It potentially could have tax implications although admittedly it'll normally be the second job that has to factor that in via the correct tax code. Also as BDEE says the contract may stipulate a requirement to inform if taking a second job. Some places will care and others won't but check over the contract and if in doubt it's worth having a quiet word to check rather than fall foul of contractual terms.

Vita · 14 Sep 2013 at 15:02

I work for a large supermarket chain. I've moved to a store, and into a new department, which is opening in the store. Due to less hours I have more free time so I am thinking of something else to keep me busy and generate a little more income.

It's not necessarily the career I want to be in but I'm hoping to branch into the I.T sector of my employer in due course. How long that will take I am unsure.

Buffman · 14 Sep 2013 at 15:27

I think if you're working for a supermarket chain they'd have a problem if you were working with a similar retailer. (Or any paid work if you are the green retailer I work with).

So best to keep quiet tbh! (unless on good terms with manager)

cainer · 14 Sep 2013 at 15:37

all those with more than one job are out of order imo, your steeling jobs from our immigrant friends

D.P. · 14 Sep 2013 at 16:01

Clov!s said:
You don't have to tell your current employer about your second job, as long as it doesn't affect your contracted hours in your first job.

What do you do now?

That may not be true. Most companies will have a clause in the contract forbidding you working for competitors and even stricter rules surrounding IP.

Raymond Lin · 14 Sep 2013 at 16:02

D.P. said:
That may not be true. Most companies will have a clause in the contract forbidding you working for competitors and even stricter rules surrounding IP.

The rule may even apply AFTER you leave your job, and time limited and even location limited.

OP, you have to check your contract.

D.P. · 14 Sep 2013 at 16:06

^^^yep, have a 2 year anti-competition clause and NDA I had to sign.

quickshot89 · 14 Sep 2013 at 18:17

My new job doesnt care that I am continuing with my retail job until after xmas. It might help me sell more of their products anyways

semi-pro waster · 15 Sep 2013 at 09:23

D.P. said:
^^^yep, have a 2 year anti-competition clause and NDA I had to sign.

I don't know what the rules are in the States on such things but in the UK the company would have to prove that a restrictive covenant of the sort was designed to protect their legitimate business interests and extended no further than reasonably necessary. For software a global restriction may very well be reasonable due to the nature of the business while that would probably be decidedly unreasonable if you worked for a supermarket unless you were the CEO of a multinational.

tomparker95 · 15 Sep 2013 at 09:40

I'm 17 and at college and I work for 2 corner shop/mini supermarkets...on the same parade of shops

dowie · 15 Sep 2013 at 12:22

D.P. said:
^^^yep, have a 2 year anti-competition clause and NDA I had to sign.

that is excessive would be very hard to enforce in the UK and IIRC can be worked around in the USA too by moving to a state where they're not enforced - California for example

I've got a 12 month one (UK) - a previous employee from another company in our group left, challenged it in court and won.

It is a faff though if they attempt to enforce it regardless of whether it actually stands up or not....

Raymond Lin · 15 Sep 2013 at 12:26

dowie said:
that is excessive would be very hard to enforce in the UK and IIRC can be worked around in the USA too by moving to a state where they're not enforced - California for example

I've got a 12 month one (UK) - a previous employee from another company in our group left, challenged it in court and won.

It is a faff though if they attempt to enforce it regardless of whether it actually stands up or not....

Without knowing the ins and outs of that one single particular case and why the judge declared the clause in the contract void, it would be a bit presumptuous to presume the entire concept is invalid in the UK.

dowie · 15 Sep 2013 at 12:55

Raymond Lin said:
Without knowing the ins and outs of that one single particular case and why the judge declared the clause in the contract void, it would be a bit presumptuous to presume the entire concept is invalid in the UK.

I didn't say the concept itself was invalid in the UK - I said that a 2 year non-compete is probably excessive and hard to enforce

LeeUK · 15 Sep 2013 at 13:26

I have 3 jobs. Proper "day job" and two delivery driver jobs for two local competing businesses.

Raymond Lin · 15 Sep 2013 at 13:30

dowie said:
I didn't say the concept itself was invalid in the UK - I said that a 2 year non-compete is probably excessive and hard to enforce

That I agree, it's all down to what is reasonable and all dependant on the field of expertise and profession.

Westyfield2 · 15 Sep 2013 at 14:27

dowie said:
that is excessive would be very hard to enforce in the UK and IIRC can be worked around in the USA too by moving to a state where they're not enforced - California for example

I've got a 12 month one (UK) - a previous employee from another company in our group left, challenged it in court and won.

It is a faff though if they attempt to enforce it regardless of whether it actually stands up or not....

What he said. Restrictive covenants can be enforced if they are short enough and precise enough, but case law shows that most of the time the employer has written them to be too restrictive and a court would go in your favour.