Increasing numbers of us are taking on second jobs, or moonlighting. For many people this can be very rewarding, but there are also plenty of issues and risks to be aware of.
Why moonlight?
For most, moonlighting simply offers the chance to earn some extra money. This is increasingly due to workers having hours or overtime cut from their regular employment, to pay for the ever-rising costs of raising a family, or because they are having financial trouble and wish to pay off debts faster. However, others use the extra cash to improve their standard of living, or increase their savings.
Money isn’t the only reason though. For example, second jobs can be:
-
A way to gain experience in a different field of work
-
A creative outlet your day job doesn’t allow
-
Preparation for starting your own business
-
A way to keep busy or be sociable
-
‘Insurance’ in the face of job insecurity
-
Helping out friends or relatives
What are the main options?
Second jobs tend to fall into two categories: part time employment, and freelancing/ self-employment.
Part time is still the most common, and mainly includes bar work, restaurant work, fast food service and delivery, taxi driving, cleaning, and security work. There may also be opportunities in telesales and shops.
Self-employment and freelancing can use more specialised skills and experience, and pay more per hour, maybe with the chance to work from home. It includes teaching and tutoring, personal training, journalism and copywriting, IT and communications work, and more. Selling goods over the internet or running weekend market stalls comes under this category too.
What are the potential problems?
First and foremost, moonlighting can jeopardise the day job, which for most people is their main source of income. Many employment contracts have this clearly spelled out, saying employees cannot take on extra work – this is the case with the police force and a number of other jobs. Other contracts may have wording about ‘non-competition’, to prevent employees helping their competitors or using secret business information to their own advantage.
Even if contracts aren’t specific, there are various unwritten rules that could land moonlighters in trouble, and maybe even in court. For example, a teacher working part time as a stripper could be ‘bringing the employer into disrepute’, normally a sackable offence. Stealing clients from an employer can also lead to being sued as well as sacked.
It’s also easy to fall foul of tax regulations. Second jobs are usually taxed without the personal allowance being included, so take home pay can be less than expected. People who are working for themselves or freelancing may also forget to register as self-employed and if caught they can be fined. Failing to declare earnings can have serious consequences too, and HMRC are about to start cracking down on owners of eBay shops.
Taking on a second job may affect working tax credits too, as credits depend on the number of hours worked.
Other possible pitfalls of moonlighting include:
-
Tiredness and clashes with regular working hours
-
Lack of family or social time
-
Personal safety issues related to night working
-
Working rights issues with secondary employers
Have you ever moonlighted, or are you tempted to start? Do you think the benefits outweigh the risks?
{Image: Antonio Picascia}
