can my boss make me quit a 2nd job?

19lottie82

this situation is hypothetical, just something I am wondering about....

Let's say I have a 9-5 job that I have always performed well in. I take on a second job in a bar 2 nights a week. This has no bearing on my performance in the other job. My boss in the first job finds out about it and says the company isn't happy about it and they want me to quit, even though there is nothing in my contract that enforces such a clause.


Can they do this

saintjammyswine

Most contracts will have a clauses about 'other employment', it is normal.

scooby088

But why wouldn't you tell the boss in the first job? And as stated it'll probably be in your employment contract.

Jarndyce

If there is nothing in your contract forbidding second jobs, then providing no working hours issues arise, no conflict of interests or confidentiality issues arise, and your performance at your first job is not suffering at all, then I do not think it would be reasonable for them to arbitrarily ask you to quit for no reason.

However there are a lot of ifs and buts there, and if they can point to just one tiny deficiency in your performance or one tenuous potential conflict or reputation issue, then it could well tip the balance. Is it really worth risking?

SarEl

And, of course, it is never a good idea to annoy your employer. Quite apart from what they are allowed to do, there is the "what they will do". Like it would be easy to sack a saint fairly. Like putting your name at the top of the next round of redundancies.

getmore4less

Arm yourself with a list of any others in the company that have other jobs.

That can include unpaid ones
Anyone run a kids club, on a committee, volunteer.

Jarndyce

getmore4less wrote: »

Arm yourself with a list of any others in the company that have other jobs.

That can include unpaid ones
Anyone run a kids club, on a committee, volunteer.

Its a common misconception that employers have to treat everyone the same. They don't. They only have to treat everyone lawfully. And if they've got it in for the OP, they'll find a way to show that in their case, the 2nd job was cause to dismiss, or discipline, or whatever. In that case, it wouldn't matter if every other member of staff was moonlighting for the competition at night, all that matters are the facts involved in how the employer treats the OP.

Emmzi

can depend on nature of first job. If for example you are working for a temperance society they could say bar work was inappropriate.

chuckley

basically no. they could sack u/make redundant tho. depends on whether u care. what were their reasons for wanting u to quit?? maybe have a meeting explaining why, e.t.c the cash.

in these hard times employers expect u to give them 200% with NMW or even less, *cough* interns... so of course ppl are working up to 3 jobs to support themselves.

hcb42

tell them you have given it up, and dont mention it again, will anyone else see you where you work....?

I worked absolutely silly hours (often 20 a week unpaid) for last employer and also study towards a degree at same time with over 100 mile commute daily. They implied I should give up degree so I could work even more hours , as it might have been that which was causing stress!