second job

joeyc_2

Hi Everyone

I currently work nights in my main job with weekly hours of 35.

I have been offered a second job in the day to work around the same hours so total to be around 70 hours a week.

However, my main employer is telling me they will only permit me to work 16 hours a week in my second job.

If anyone can tell me do they have a legal right to do this? I have checked my contract it doesnt state anything in regards to the limit of hours on a second job, just that i must notify them if i do get a second job.

The companys are both in diffrent fields no conflict of interest, just a bit confused. If any advice can be given, would be great.

Thanks

Joe.:j

nolongerindenial

The one thing your current employer will be interested in is the EU working time directive - they need to protect themselves.

The other major thing they will be concerned about is the fact they want to gain maximum productivity from you, which if you are working two full time jobs, this leaves very little rest time (168 physical hours in a week, 70 of those working leaves 98 remaining to eat, sleep, dress yourself, travel to and from your current employer/new employer - socialise and relax!)

I know you may say you feel you can do this, however when you consider what a drain this will have on you over months/years you quickly realise that high number of working hours leads to mistaks - and a mistake can cost a company 10's of thousands of pounds!

I myself work in excess of 70 hours a week self employed, however I do not have to worry about travelling to and from work, when I want a rest in the evening I put my laptop on the floor and watch some tv, I get to relax a little in the day to keep myself refreshed and yet some weeks it is still massively on top of me in terms of tiredness. On an average day I goto bed around 2-2:30 AM and am up again for 9am regardless of what time I get my head down.

PlutoinCapricorn

Conflict of interest is not the only issue here. There is also the question of your using the facilities at the main job for other purposes - perhaps this is not relevant - and also of being too tired and distracted to give your full attention to the main job.

I know someone who got an evening job in a bar, and she was so obviously exhausted that the main employer asked her to stop doing it.

What you do in your free time is your own affair in theory, but not if it has a negative effect on the main job.

lozza1985

Depending on your employer you can choose to opt out of the european working directive, OH does this as he works security doing on average 56 hours a week. Depends on the circumstances and your contract though I suppose.