Are you a moonlighter? If you work a second job, the answer is yes—even if you don't technically do that work at night. Plenty of employees work second or even third jobs to make ends meet or explore other career options. Even if you don't work for another employer, you might be moonlighting if you have your own side business, such as freelance writing or consulting work.
Working as much as you can to earn as much money as possible might seem like the epitome of American capitalism. But, believe it or not, there's a chance your employer can fire you for working a second job or even an occasional side hustle. We explain the rules below.
Unless you have an employment contract that limits your employer's right to fire you, you are most likely an at-will employee. (Montana employees are the exception, as it's the only state that protects employees from being fired without cause.) An at-will employee can be fired at any time, as long as the reason isn't illegal. Your employer can't fire you because of your race or in retaliation for reporting unsafe working conditions, for example.
Some states have laws that prohibit employers from taking action against employees based on their legal off-duty conduct. The language and protections offered by these laws vary from state to state. Some apply only to an employee's use of legal products, such as tobacco. Others apply more broadly to any legal activities. Depending on the circumstances, an off-duty conduct law might limit your employer's right to fire you for moonlighting, unless it conflicts with or affects your work.
However, many states do not have broad off-duty conduct laws. If you work in one of these states, then your employer is probably free to fire you for working a second job.
Of course, most employers don't fire employees on a whim. It makes no sense to get rid of workers who are doing a good job, and it costs time and money to hire and train replacements. So why would an employer want to fire you for moonlighting? Employer concerns about moonlighting generally fall into these categories:
For these reasons, some companies have adopted policies about moonlighting. For example, a company might prohibit moonlighting altogether. Or, a company might require employees to report any outside work to their manager or the human resources department, so the company can decide whether to allow the second job. Some companies take a more limited approach by prohibiting only outside work that poses a conflict of interest or competes with the company.
If you have signed a noncompete contract with your employer, that might also limit your right to moonlight, especially for competing companies. A few states (including California) don't allow noncompete contracts. In most states, however, a court will hold you to the terms of a reasonable noncompete, including a promise not to start or work for a competing company.
If you believe you were unfairly fired for working a second job, you should talk to an experienced employment attorney. If your second job competes with your first job or creates a conflict of interest, you likely don't have a good claim.
Otherwise, however, you might have legal grounds for a lawsuit, especially if your state has an off-duty conduct law or if you were treated differently from other employees. If, for example, men were routinely allowed to work second jobs but women were fired for it, you might have a gender discrimination claim.
A lawyer can help you sift through the facts and figure out your legal options.