Can you get fired for having a second job?

Can You Get Fired For Having A Second Job?

In this article, we will find the answer to your question ‘Can you get fired for having a second job?.

It’s amazing how a lot of things have changed right after the pandemic. Most companies went out of business, some laid off staff, other companies inflated the prices of their products just to regain lost monies, individuals who were laid off had to take up menial jobs just to get by, while others indulged in criminal activities. These days, it is almost impossible to find a career lady or gent having just one job. Right before the pandemic, most persons were shuttling two jobs, how much more now.

However, some persons who are not smart about having two jobs at a time, end up losing one or both in worse scenarios. The answer is yes, one can get fired for having a second job. There are quite a couple of factors that are responsible for why most persons get fired for having a second job. This reason cuts across irresponsibility on the part of the individual, and sometimes, it could involve the company’s work policy.

Reasons Why People Have Second Jobs

Getting a second job is not a bizarre act, it has come to stay. Most persons no longer find satisfaction in having one job and the solution to their problem is getting another. Like I earlier mentioned, there are a couple of reasons why most people go for a second job, these reasons are:

1. Low Income

This is one of the reasons why people go for a second job. Some people work so hard yet they earn so little, the amount of money they receive is not commensurate to the amount of energy they put into their work. This is quite exhausting and disheartening, hence the need to secure a second job to stay afloat.

2. Inability to Pay Bills or Loans to Pay

This is yet another reason why. Most persons have a large number of people to cater for, some persons have a large family added with extended relatives living with them. Surviving on two jobs is almost impossible, not to talk of having just one job. Bill payments to make are utility bills, groceries, school fees, etc. In some cases, it could be that the individual has loans to clear up, doing that would require having a second job.

3. Emergencies

There are some emergencies or unforeseen situations that may arise that requires funding that your present income cannot sort out, getting a second job may just be the only way to handle the emergencies

4. Passion

This is yet another unique reason why people go for a second job. They shuttle two jobs, one that pays the bills while another that does not pay the bills but they derive joy from it because it is their passion. Some persons are fortunate to make a living from their passion. Sometimes it pays their bills, other times it does not, so they get a second job.

5. Extra Time

Some jobs avail you extra or enough time to rest after you are through with your work for the day. Some persons go home to rest, while others seize the opportunity to get a second job. Some persons run shift jobs, these shift jobs avail them enough time for themselves when they are not at work. Some persons prefer to be at home with their families and create lovely memories while others see that as a great opportunity to work somewhere else so they can meet up with bill payments.

All these are valid reasons why one obtains a second job.

Things people do that can get them fired for keeping a second job

There are quite a several things that people keeping second jobs do that makes them liable to being fired. These things are responsible for making individuals lose credibility in the sight of their employers. They are:

1. When you assume your employer is fine with it.

Most persons live by assumptions, they assume that a certain act is acceptable simply because they feel comfortable doing it or because it is to their gain. Some employers are not happy knowing that their employees are working elsewhere, this is why they make room for extra time jobs for staff who would like an extra income.

This is one reason why employers relieve their employees from their jobs. Shole some other employers are cool with it as long as it does not clash with your resumption time. But in all, make it a point of duty to know what is obtainable in the company where you work and take proper steps so you do not risk losing your job afterward.

2. Coming late to work

This is one of the things that are capable of making an individual lose his or her job. Before deciding to get a second job, first ensure that the time does not clash with the other, this will enable you to relax a bit from the previous before going on to the next. Also, it helps you settle in just fine as though you were not coming from a job before now.

3. Using work time to attend to the second job responsibilities

This is yet another factor that is responsible for making individuals get fired for having a second job. When you get a second job, try as much as possible to not use the time meant for one job for the other.

The time for work A should be used judiciously for work A. Some employees were fired because they were found using work time to meet the demands for another job. Employers do not take this lightly. Dangers of Keeping a Second Job.

The Dangers Associated With Securing A Second Job

There are dangers associated with keeping a second job and they are:

1. You risk losing one

While securing a second job, there are tendencies of losing one of them. This could be as a result of divided attention or paying more attention to one than the other. Because, one will be more demanding than the other, while in other cases, both may be so demanding.

Most employers do not want to find out that you have a second job irrespective of any reason you may give to them. They feel that your priorities will be misplaced because of your second job. It is worse when you give them a reason to believe that you can’t stay coordinated at work because of your other job. This is why most persons get fired.

2. You risk losing yourself

Getting two jobs can make you lose yourself. Just because you are trying to keep both jobs, you will find yourself doing things that you would not have done if not for the situation you are in. In most cases, you have little or no time for yourself and your family for those that have one.

3. Little or no time to develop yourself

This is another danger of having a second job. The time you would have spent enrolling to sharpen your career skills, develop yourself and acquire new knowledge, is the time you spend in your second job. This tends to keep you static in your career and even as a person.

How to Maintain Your Jobs Without Getting Fired in Both? 

Going by the way things are, it is almost impossible to live with just one job, it is either you have two jobs or you have a business attached to your job, that is for those who are business inclined. Notwithstanding, there are certain things that you can do to ensure that no job suffers for the other or you to successfully perform well in both jobs. They are:

1. Between the two jobs, know which one of them is a priority.

It is important to know which of the jobs is more important and the more important job should be treated with priority.  

2. Make your family understand why you are getting a second job and put structures in place for them not to feel your absence.

Family comes first and should be treated with honor and love. Your family should always know about your plans of picking a second job, this will enable them to adjust adequately.

3. Schedule your time and be disciplined enough to stick to the plan

When running two jobs, learn to be a time manager. Plan your work time and stick to the plan. Do not use the time meant for the first job to take care of an assignment meant for the second except it is spare time.

4. Get a second job that is not too demanding

When choosing a second job, choose a job that is not as tasking, time-consuming, and exhaustive as the first. Bear in mind that the second job is a supplementary job that will help assist your income, so while getting one, see to it that it does not become overbearing, and should that be the case, do not hesitate to quit.

Conclusion

It is very possible to get fired for having a second job if you fail to put certain measures in place that will aid you to perform well in both. Know when to draw the line, in other words, know when to quit when it looks like it is becoming too much to bear or when you are losing concentration. This will help prevent your employers from relieving you of your job for lack of concentration or efficiency.

Can you get fired for having a second job?

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