Working two full time jobs at once

max78

Hi All,

I'm presently employed full time, and have been offered another full time job. Both jobs involve telecommuting i.e. working for home, and working hours are identical (9-5).

There are NO clauses in my present and new contracts which forbid working in 2 full time jobs at the same time/in parallel. Each contract states that working hours are 37.5 hrs per week for each job, which is pretty standard these days.

What are my rights in this instance ? Am I allowed to hold 2 full time jobs based on the circumstance described above, from a UK employment and legal standpoint ? Naturally both employers would likely be unamused if they actually realized that I am working 2 separate jobs during the same hours, but my belief is that I would be able to manage these 2 jobs , even if this inevitably involves working longer hours.

Appreciate your thoughts, cheers !

paddedjohn

You would be in breach of your contract to your first employer if you are using any of their time to work elsewhere.

sniggings

just because something is not in the contract doesn't mean it's allowed, every possible circumstance can not possibly be covered in a contract, somethings are taken as a given, such as you still breathing and working for the employer for the hours being paid for, it would be different if your contract didn't have set hours.

MissSarah1972

max78 wrote: »

Hi All,

I'm presently employed full time, and have been offered another full time job. Both jobs involve telecommuting i.e. working for home, and working hours are identical (9-5).

There are NO clauses in my present and new contracts which forbid working in 2 full time jobs at the same time/in parallel. Each contract states that working hours are 37.5 hrs per week for each job, which is pretty standard these days.

What are my rights in this instance ? Am I allowed to hold 2 full time jobs based on the circumstance described above, from a UK employment and legal standpoint ? Naturally both employers would likely be unamused if they actually realized that I am working 2 separate jobs during the same hours, but my belief is that I would be able to manage these 2 jobs , even if this inevitably involves working longer hours.

Appreciate your thoughts, cheers !

Depends what they are and if you have deadlines daily or have to take calls etc when you may be on the phone dealing with the other job.

Are you self employed?

CKhalvashi

It will vary between employers.

I've stated explicitly that if we're quiet, I'd rather employees use our facilities for their own private work, as it's free advertisement for us (we wouldn't pay them, nor would we charge them, and October so far has a 24.6% booking rate on that team and they're all on 0 hour contracts). On the other team, my lot are allowed to do it on condition we take 10% from it (any work we supply is 25%, as most of them are self-employed and lease the vehicles from a separate legal entity we own)

I know employers in the same industry, and even on the same industrial estate in the same industry that won't allow it. I'd also be a little funny regarding working two full-time shifts, as the contracts state commitment to our company, which will often include 60 hour weeks at times, and the obligatory 3 weeks p.a (2 in May, 1 in Nov/Dec) abroad every 2 years (50% each year).

CK

Sambucus_Nigra

Most contract don't say 'don't work another full time job in the same hours at the same time' as it's implied that if you are employed between 9-5 on one job, then that's the job and you don't do another during the same hours on the same days at the same time.

How are you going to do this? Have 2 conversations with 2 people about 2 things on 2 phones, one in each ear?

PlutoinCapricorn

This sounds like fraud and cheating to me: how could either employer get their money's worth from you? Perhaps this even constitutes gross professional misconduct.

There may be something in the contract of employment about taking on additional work in general. I have heard of home based workers being checked to ensure that they are working their full hours.

The second employer would ask for a P45, and might not be happy if you complete a P46 to say you have another job.

Sambucus_Nigra

PlutoinCapricorn wrote: »

This sounds like fraud and cheating to me: how could either employer get their money's worth from you? Perhaps this even constitutes gross professional misconduct.

Yes, it will be. All 3!

Uncertain

From a practical point of view an employer has to judge any job where you work from home by results. They have no means of checking how many hours you spend at your desk.

If the jobs both require you to be easily contactable by phone there is an obvious problem as it is hard to be on two calls at once.

Equally the employer has no means of knowing if your wife / husband / children / dog are actually doing some of the paperwork for you. All they can monitor is the quality of the end result.

Is there any need in either job for some or all of the work to be done at specific hours of the day? If not, this helps.

Having said all that I suspect few employers would be keen on the situation if directly asked.

Another obvious issue would be if there was any possible suggestion that the two employers were in competition.

If there are no contractual clauses or possible conflict of interest then whether this would still be a breach of trust, and therefore misconduct, is debatable. There is certainly a risk it could be seen this way so is that a risk you are prepared to take?

At the end of the day only you really know how likely either employer is to object providing they are getting satisfactory work.

Uncertain

Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »

Yes, it will be. All 3!

Sorry, but this is far too sweeping without knowing the full circumstances for the reasons I have outlined.

Sambucus_Nigra

Uncertain wrote: »

Sorry, but this is far too sweeping without knowing the full circumstances for the reasons I have outlined.

The job is 9-5 for both. Not 'any hours based on results'.