second job- should I tell my employer?

[twojobtom]

I am a full time professional working for local council. Think teacher / social worker (not my role, but it’s that type of job).

I’ve found an extra zero hours contract job that I can do at weekends to supplement my income. Currently thinking of working one full Saturday every second or third weekend, but as it’s zero hours it’s totally up to me, I don’t think it will affect my job performance because if I am tired or stressed or busy I just won’t take the hours.

l’ve checked my job contract and employee handbook and there’s nothing I can see that says I can’t take a second job or that I have to ask permission or inform my employer if I do.

I feel a little dishonest by not saying anything, but also I don’t want to risk asking JUST in case they say no. Better to ask forgiveness than permission, etc.

Would keeping the zero hour contract quiet be unreasonable do you think? Even if it’s not in my contract, is it manners / etiquette / ‘the done thing’ to mention it?
If and when they find out, is it likely they will feel justifiably annoyed or let down that I didn’t tell them?

Well my take on it is you work for them, but you are not their slave and your free time is your own.

But then don't mind me I would argue with two flies walking up a wall at this precise moment.

Thanks all. The way the hours work I would probably end up doing an 8-9 hour stint once or two weekends a month. The weekend I work I would probably be over the maximum working hours by a couple of hours, but I also get flexi time at work, so I could arrange it so that I don’t go over that by clocking off early those weeks and making it up on other weeks (in theory, in practice I’d just do what it takes to get the job done and nobody’s counting hours!)

I think I will tell them though, out of politeness.
It’s not so much my ‘rights’ I’m concerned about, it’s more the sort of behaviour expected. Obviously my main job is my career and I don’t want to piss them off.

Thanks

There aren't any WTD implications if you're contracted to 35-40 hours in your main job and working a couple of Saturdays a month as you won't average over 48 hours over 17 weeks or whatever the rule is.

Plenty of people have second jobs, especially junior staff who hang on to bar jobs that they enjoy or if they need to increase their income to make ends meet or to save up for a house deposit etc.

I'd be really surprised if there isn't a clause in your employment. I've worked for 4 local authorities and all had clauses saying they didn't encourage employees about a specific grade (usually 3 grades from bottom) to take second jobs and if they did they needed to inform their line manager.

I wouldn’t dream of telling my employer as long as there’s no conflict of interest. Why on Earth would I? It’s none of their business.

I'm surprised that local authorities don't say you have to inform them of a secondary job. In the NHS you have to inform then whether is paid or voluntary. I work bank in a nursing home so I had to fill out a form to say that's what I'll be doing and that it won't impact on my job.