Are you worried about whether or not your employer knows you have another job? If they ask you to prove it, how would you go about proving it?
In today’s competitive environment, employers want to hire employees who are loyal and dedicated to their company. They also want to ensure that these employees don’t take advantage of them by having multiple jobs simultaneously.
Employers often try to verify employment history through background checks. This means they may check your credit report, social media accounts, and tax returns. But the question is, can your employer find out you have a second job? Read on to learn more!
What is secondary employment?
Secondary employment occurs when an employee works in a job outside of their main position. An example is working part-time at a convenience store while working full-time at a bank.
Secondary employment can be a great way to make extra money, especially if you are passionate about something else. However, it can also cause stress because there is no guarantee of how long it will continue.
Are employers able to find out if you have another job?
If you’re considering starting a second job, you might want to consider how much information your current employer knows about your off-hours activities. In most cases, there isn’t anything wrong with having multiple jobs. However, some employers can track down information about employees’ side hustles.
An example of this would be if you work for a technology company and participate in coding competitions. Your employer could discover this activity because they monitor your online presence. You don’t necessarily have to hide your hobby from your boss.
However, if you work for someone else, you must keep your second job secret. Otherwise, your employer might find out about it. And once they do, they might fire you.
How Do Employees Get Caught
Employees often work multiple jobs—sometimes, those jobs aren’t even related to each other. But there are ways to get caught. Here are three scenarios that we’ve seen over the years.
1. Coworkers
Coworkers are probably the most common way people get caught working two jobs. This happens because coworkers tend to talk about things like restaurants, movies, and vacations. If one person mentions something, chances are another employee knows about it too.
2. Friends & Family
If you’re friends with someone who works at a different place, you might find yourself recommending places or events to him or her. You don’t realize that they are working there. Or maybe you tell a friend about a great new restaurant you found. Your friend tells their boss about it, and suddenly you’re both looking for new jobs.
3. Daycare Parents
Daycare centers are full of gossip, especially if you live close enough to see your kids every day. A parent might mention seeing you at work or overhearing you talking about your job. And while you’re busy trying to keep your secret, the parent decides to call your employer.
Who Does the Checking?
Some employers verify work history, while others outsource this task to reference checking organizations. These organizations typically charge a fee for their services and sometimes require an upfront payment. They then thoroughly investigate your resume and references to ensure everything matches up.
How To Reduce The Likelihood Of Being Caught
Your employer doesn’t always find out about your second job. But there are some things you can do to reduce the chances of being found out.
People tend to tell their employers about their second jobs once they’ve worked for the company for six months or longer. You’re less likely to be caught if you switch companies every few weeks. Also, don’t mention your second job during interviews.
If you do want to keep your second job secret, here are some tips:
1. Be careful how much money you put into savings accounts. Your employer might notice a sudden drop in your bank account balance.
2. Keep track of your hours worked using a calendar app like Evernote or Microsoft OneNote.
3. Don’t use email to communicate about your second job. Instead, send messages via text messaging apps like WhatsApp.
4. Use different passwords for both jobs.
The Proper Way to Discuss a Second Job
If you’re considering taking a second job, it might be a good idea to talk to your employer about it. But there are some things to consider before broaching the subject.
Remember that most employers require employees to obtain prior approval before starting a side hustle. And even though many companies don’t specify what constitutes “approval,” it usually involves having a conversation with human resources.
So before you go ahead and take on a second gig, ask yourself whether you want to risk getting fired.
And while it’s true that most employers won’t fire you just because you took on a second job, they aren’t likely to be thrilled with the news.
After all, why would they pay you to work elsewhere? So think carefully before deciding to take on a second job. You could lose money and benefits, including vacation days, medical coverage, and retirement contributions. And if you choose to pursue a second job anyway, you’ll probably want to avoid discussing it directly with your boss.
Instead, try setting up a casual discussion with someone else in the office, such as another employee or a manager. Then lay out your case for a second job, emphasizing the positive aspects of doing so. For example, you might say, “I’m looking into opportunities to increase my earning power. I’d really appreciate your input.”
Is it permissible to have two full-time jobs?
The United States government does not regulate whether employees can work multiple jobs, though some states enforce restrictions. Employers generally don’t care about how many hours you work each day; the total number of hours worked during a given pay period matters. However, some companies prohibit workers from “moonlighting,” meaning taking on extra work without permission.
If you’re employed by another company while working full-time for your primary employer, the law varies depending on where you live. Some states require you to notify both employers of your side hustle. Others allow you to keep your secret unless someone asks you directly. Still, others make no mention of side gigs at all.
You’ll most likely want to ask your boss if they know about your other job. You could also seek legal advice from an attorney. But don’t worry—if you follow certain guidelines, you won’t face any legal consequences.
Does It Make Sense to Get a Second Job?
If you are lucky enough to have a flexible boss, there is no reason why you shouldn’t consider taking on a second job. There are many benefits to having a side hustle, including the opportunity to earn more money, learn something new or even develop skills.
However, you should view your secondary employment as a temporary solution, not a permanent one. This way, you won’t feel overwhelmed or stressed about working too much. Instead, you’ll be able to enjoy both jobs without feeling like you’re neglecting either.
You might think that taking on a second job is a great idea because you’re looking for ways to make more money. But, while earning additional money is certainly a benefit, it isn’t the main goal. Rather, it’s about finding a balance between work and life.
As such, you should avoid becoming obsessed with your second job and instead focus on enjoying yourself. After all, nobody likes a grumpy employee.
Why should my current or potential employers care?
You are likely to burn out if you’re working a second gig. This means you’ll start missing deadlines, being late to meetings, and not putting forth your best effort. Suddenly, your boss isn’t getting the best possible output from you. And since he’s already invested his time and money into training you, he doesn’t want to pay twice for mediocre performance.
This is where conflicts of interest come in. Your employer might think you’re doing too many favors for your friends and family or taking advantage of your position. He might even suspect that you are secretly selling secrets or stealing customers. These are all red flags that could cost him money.
Key takeaway
So, can your employer find out if you have a second job? In most cases, the answer is no. However, you can do a few things to make sure your secret side hustle stays just that—a secret.
First and foremost, be careful about what information you put on your resume. Don’t list your company’s name or provide too many details about what you do there.
Also, try not to use work computers or email addresses for anything related to your side hustle. If all else fails and your boss somehow finds out about your moonlighting gig, don’t panic! Be honest with them and explain that you need the extra income to meet ends.
Offer to reduce your hours at work or switch to a less demanding position so that you can still juggle both jobs without putting too much stress on yourself.
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