eBay whilst signed off sick from work - is this allowed??

roll-o

If a person is signed off sick from work, and is therfore not allowed to undertake any other kind of work - can they continue to do eBay?

I am currently signed off sick from my job and have just received a letter from my employer that states:

"You should advise us immediately if you are still performing work for another employer, either any new work or any work that you undertake now"

I have sold 2nd hand stuff on eBay for 3 years now (between 1-15 listings a week) - am I allowed to keep on doing this, or does it count as 'work' - I REALLY don't want to get the sack and I'm really worried about this. It is well known that I sell on eBay and the boss would love nothing more than a good reason to get me out. Any help or advise would be gratefully received - - Thanks

dmg24

What type of work are you signed off from?

roll-o

I am a manager for a logistics company - off sick with stress due to bullying and harassment.

dmg24

Some people do class eBay as employment, and strictly speaking if you make a profit from it, you should declare it for tax purposes (though few people do).

My concern for you would be that you feel that your employer is trying to get rid of you, and they already know that you sell on eBay a lot. By continuing to do it whilst off sick you could be giving them ammunition?

Hope you get things sorted x

ukstocks5

continue selling on ebay but get a 2nd user id as your gaffer or some other snitch will be watching your ebay stuff

LittleVoice

roll-o wrote: »

. . . just received a letter from my employer that states:

"You should advise us immediately if you are still performing work for another employer, either any new work or any work that you undertake now"

Your ebay transactions are not for "another employer" so are not covered by this requirement to notify the employer who wrote to you. The text I have put in red relates to "another employer" it is not a separate reference to work of any kind.

dmg24

LittleVoice wrote: »

Your ebay transactions are not for "another employer" so are not covered by this requirement to notify the employer who wrote to you. The text I have put in red relates to "another employer" it is not a separate reference to work of any kind.

The literal meaning of self employment is 'employed by self', which could come under the definition of 'another employer', so I would not rely on that as a loophole.

roll-o

Thanks so much to all the kind people who took the time to reply to my post - the general consensus confirms what I was thinking - that there's every need to be careful.
many thanks once again to all.:A

ohreally

What is your employers policy regarding secondary employment? Providing holding other employment is not a contractual breach, i don't see a major issue here.

Sugar_Coated_Owl

If you are just selling your own personal items on eBay then that isn't classed as working.

Conor_3

roll-o wrote: »

If a person is signed off sick from work, and is therfore not allowed to undertake any other kind of work

Actually you're wrong about that. Just because you're signed off sick from your main employment doesn't stop you from being able to work somewhere else if your employer agrees your sickness prevents you doing your main job, i.e a typist who has injured one hand. They can't type but there's nothing to stop them working as a bingo caller.