advice

Martin_o03

Any help would be appreciated, thank you

TELLIT01

Is your main employer aware of the second job?  Many employers require employees to get their permission before taking on other work.  There is no direct conflict between being fit enough to do a job where you are seated and not being able to do one where a lot of moving around is required.  If you are hoping to return to work with the main employer and work from home, is there any reason this hasn't started earlier?

Undervalued

Martin_o03 said:

Hello folks I'm looking for some advice

I'm currently off my main job sick due to a spine and hip condition which makes walking and moving generally very difficult for me. I'm hoping to return within 2 weeks and initially work from home. 

My question - I have a second job which I work a few evenings a week from home. It's not very strenuous, I'm only answering calls with a headset on, I need the second job to get by.

Am I in breach of anything by working this job whilst off sick from the other, with hmrc or my main job? I obviously don't want to do anything to risk my job or get into trouble. As I say it is completely remote and just a case of answering a phone, I don't get sick pay for it because it's just a casual contract and not long started.

Any help would be appreciated, thank you

No, not in itself. It is perfectly possible to be unfit for one type of work whilst able to do a different type of work. A part time manual job and a part time clerical role would be an obvious example. Although perfectly proper, some employers will look closely at the situation.

However, on a GP's "fit note" the doctor has the opportunity to say what kind of work (if any) you are able to do. So, if your main employer feels they can accommodate that, they can choose to ask you to come in and perform the duties the GP feels you are able to do. Or, if they wish, they can say no, stay off sick until you can do your normal work.

So, your "fit note" needs to be clear as to what you can and cannot do. 

DullGreyGuy

As long as you are being open with all then its not an issue. Doctors can issue a conditional fit note that says you are capable of doing some types of tasks but not all. That can mean you cannot do the duties of one job but are fine to do the duties of another.

Where things get complex is where your contract says you have to have permission for another job and you haven't done that or your Doc signs you off from all work but you fail to declare that to one of your employer