2 Jobs

[HongKongphooey]

Can a company get you to sign a letter saying you don't work anywhere else?
I work 24hrs a week for a Care home, and the bosses have given all us staff a letter asking us to sign saying we dont work elsewhere. Can they legally do this? I work doing the admin and invoices for my husband who is an electrician, (now semi retired) Alot of the staff say they are not going to sign it. Whats the legal situation on this? Any advice would be helpful thanks

[Cloverjo]

Is this anything to do with furloughing? If it is you can be furloughed and still work for another company. I can’t see why they want you to do this.

[bednobs]

1) what is the purpose of them finding out if you work elsewhere?
2)what are the consequences of a) working elsewhere and b) not signing the letter?

[HongKongphooey]

Its not to do with furloughing cos we are a care home and none of us are furloughed. Dont know what the purpose is. Maybe I should ask...

[MallyJ]

This is why people should join a union...all the info you need plus people to fight your corner if necessary. I would suggest you ask why they want this info. I can't see any reason why you shouldn't work two jobs.... I used to work full time and in the evenings was an Evening, Part Time Domestic!!!!

[ubasses]

Have you asked them why they want you all to sign the letter. As you work in a Care Home, it could be as simple as wanting to be sure none of you are at risk of contacting covidq19 in another work environment.

[Hymie]

Soon after I started posting on this site there was a woman posting, arguing that an employer could place this condition on employees – I argued the opposite, that any UK court/tribunal would find this an unreasonable restriction on freedom.

The care home could advise that as a result of your refusal to accept the change in terms of employment, they would sack you. Once sacked, your only recourse would then be to take the matter before an employment tribunal. If you have been employed by them for less than 2 years, this option would not be available to you – unless you could argue the matter based on sex discrimination (or some other criteria allowed within this period).

Personally if this happened to me I would tell my employer to stuff it (and take them to an employment tribunal), but then I’m in the luxurious position that I don’t need a monthly salary to survive. What with the UK economy about to take a serious dive with many millions unemployed, you might decide that your only option is to accept the terms.

[woofgang]

I think the first thing to do is to take a breath and calmly and politely ask why. Also your post is kind of unclear. Are they asking you to tell them whether or not you work elsewhere or asking you to agree not to work elsewhere? I can think of quite a few legitimate reasons why they want the information, nothing to do with furlough or benefits and a couple of reasons why they might want staff to agree not to work elsewhere or at least to agree to not do certain jobs. I doubt that they can insist that people stop working elsewhere but can see why if a staff member works in a risky environment...oh lets say an abbatoir for the sake of an example...then they may not want that person to be involved in the care of frail residents.
If the reasoning hasn't been explained to you then its not been handled well but really I think that you and your colleagues need to get the facts before you start refusing to do this or that.

[Peter Pedant]

// 1) what is the purpose of them finding out if you work elsewhere? 2)what are the consequences of a) working elsewhere and b) not signing the letter? //

this is answerbank not more-questions-bank

certainly happens in other health care settings - they dont want people coming in sh+gged. BUT
I think y'all better get unionised - unison - will do because it sounds as tho they are trying to CHANGE your contract unilaterally your disadvantage

and no it is nothing to do with filling out your hubbys invoices

and here is sonething about it

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/work/rights-at-work/basic-rights-and-contracts/changes-to-employment-contracts-overview/

but you really need a union to fight this one off

[Peter Pedant]

hymie is telling it like it is