conflicts of interest

[workpaysno]

Is it possible to work full-time as a Customer Service Advisor in the Housing Department for the local council and also take a part-time job at the office as a Customer Service Advisor for an insurance company handling home emergencies?

The council requires permission to take another job to avoid conflicts of interest. Do you think the council would approve working for the insurance company? I struggle to see any conflict, but I may be mistaken.

Additionally, is it feasible to work 37.5 hours per week for the council (weekdays, no weekends) and then do 30 hours (or more, if possible) for the insurance company in the evenings? The council role involves approximately 2-3 weeks of training in the office (8 am to 5 pm), after which the work is done from home, with occasional office meetings as required or working at the office by choice. The insurance job is from 6 or 7 pm to 11 pm on weekdays, with scheduled weekend work once a month and potential for overtime.

Is working around 67.5 hours a week possible

I can't say whether your existing employer would allow it or not but from a physical point of view it is possible. It is draining though.

When I was younger, I worked several jobs. Main job in the day, two evenings a week in a petrol station, two delivering pizzas, and two at night school. Later on, I unloaded UPS trucks from 5am to 8am, then did my main job 9am to 6pm.

It was tough, but necessary.

That sounds tough but like you said, it was tough but necessary and I am in the same boat. Thanks

I think the council would say no to so many hours due to the likely impact of your efficiency in your week job, especially if you're working from home for them.

I think key for me is how many home emergencies there actually are each evening and therefore how intense the role is likely to be. Being at home and available from 7pm - 11pm and doing the occasional call whilst also being able to watch TV, do some exercise, do some housework, make dinner and things is very different to a call centre role where you're on one call and you know that there are two or three people waiting so you never get a moment.
Otherwise, it's practicalities like commute, whether you have children and that sort of thing. When I was childfree in my 20s, I regularly worked 70+ hour weeks, largely over 5 days, so it is manageable. You will have to be really strict about your lunch hour in your main role as that will be able your only chance to get some fresh air.

@RedHelenB
I have thought of that but my plan to work about 30 hours with insurance company is not confirmed as I am thinking of 30 hours or more as overtime. Contract with insurance company will most probably be 20 hours (which can mostly be done weekends) which is what will be on paper to present to the council when asking for permission.

I am only planning to go beyond the 20 hours as overtime.

Think you'll have to declare to main job hr, I wouldn't do it voluntarily

We do those hours frequently as drs but not every week

This is our 7wk rota pattern
50h
50h
63h
25h
50h
63h
35h

I'm forever knackered but I think that's more the 3h daily commute than the job as isn't anywhere near as bad when I live local to work

I have a local authority job working 37 hours a week and when I started I asked if I could do some unrelated occasional hours on the side and they said no, they wanted me focused on the main job.

I think this is probably an unfair term applied in a blanket fashion which I will challenge at some point, but it was a definite no.

I wouldn't be worried about the conflict of interest (that to me would be more like working for a client). But working double hours would be seen as a risk to your performance at your main job. Are there any other options?

@TheKneesOfTheBees
Wow that is unfair and even wicked and it is making consider not disclosing it at to the council(employer) now. Challenge it and keep me(us posted here pls).

If they want one to do just their job then they need to pay much more because of I were to do just their job, I would not be able to concentrate but be thinking and worried about income and cost of living.

🤔perhaps I do not ask for permission or disclose insurance job to council at all. I can't afford to live just on what the council's pay is.

I can't think of any other options

And I have suffered, searched and waited 7-8 months to get these jobs living hand to mouth on small benefit and the stress of the DWP for the pennies I get from benefit.

What other options can there be?

I think you have misunderstood me and sorry if i am the one not understanding you correctly

The council job will be remote after 2-3weeks working 8am - 5pm and no weekends

The insurance job will be solely office based 6pm or 7pm to 11pm weekdays and weekends (can be all day)

The options are:

Declare it at the hours you truthfully will work and they can accept or decline - probably decline.

Declare it at reduced hours and they can accept or decline - potentially decline.

Declare it as occasional work and they can accept or decline.

Don't declare it and risk if they find out, losing the full time job. Meanwhile keep looking fro better paid jobs overall using the experiences gained for your CV.

Also, you do risk getting completely exhaused...and not functioning in either.

I don't understand what drs is

I am lucky that the council job is less than a mile from my house
And the insurance job is 5miles from my house

I think they are likely to decline.
I work for a Local Authority and some people work a second job but they are part time in their main job and the second job is just a few hours or the odd relief shift.

Will you be able to keep it quiet if you need to be in an office by 6pm? My guess would be if they found out they might give you the chance to choose to leave the second job - but I don't know that.

If you need the second job to manage e.g. your rent is high might you be entitled to any benefit top ups if you only work the Council job?

Exactly my thoughts

But unfortunately, I have been looking for a good better pay job since before i graduated BA & MA 4 years ago with no luck but low paying jobs to get income.
But I am still looking not giving up but that council pay is not enough and I am sick and tired of me & especially my kids going without which they haven't thankfully so far but the stress of struggling to make it work is worse than working 70hours a week in my opinion.

Drs is doctors.

I would check your contract carefully for the exact wording about secondary employment. My concern would be if you don’t declare it and you are found out it might be grounds for instant dismissal. It sounds like you are struggling financially so that would be a really bad outcome.

I will have to keep it quiet and not disclose to the council at all because I can't risk them saying no and then probably keep an eye to make sure I am not doing the 2nd job they declined permission for.

I wouldn't bank on or consider the benefit to up. Too many red tape and procedures and then they might even say no 🤷🏽‍♀️. I wanna run and stay as far away from benefits as possible. The concept is fantastic but it sucks. I do appreciate the little help is offered me in the past but 🤦🏾‍♀️🤦🏾‍♀️

The good thing about a council job is that there are promotion opportunities once you work there and you get to know people. So get in, netowork, go for higher jobs as soon as you can.

I am sincerely hoping for the council job to bring opportunities for me.

You mention kids. Have you got rock solid childcare / evening back up for them?

It will be totally knackering, especially with family to manage too. Are you thinking this is a 6 month block to get your feet back on the ground, or is it long term until you can secure a higher paying job?

I work full time for a council, I also work 8 hours on a Saturday at a supermarket. Needs must for me.

I declared it at the start - specifically asked during pre employment checks if I had another job. It wasn't an issue but obviously it's only 8 hours and not mentally taxing.

I am thinking is for the short term of 6 months - 12 months tops for the insurance job as a 2nd job. I see more opportunities to progress at the council job so no planning to have the insurance job for longer than 12 months maximum.

Oh yes, I have a solid childcare plan for kids. Their dad who is not working due to illness can look after them when I am working late at the insurance company.

Did you have your do pre medical checks too? I have never done pre medical checks for any job I have had in the past but then they were all in the private sector. It seems to be the norm in the public sector.