After-Hours "Side Work"

[tylex03]

This week my employer notified its maintenance employees that they are no longer allowed to perform side work for our customers, who are individual homeowners (these are vacation homes). Previously, employees were allowed to work for the homeowners as long as it was not during their regular shift and did not compete with services offered by the company. As a company, we offer very basic services, such as changing light bulbs, checking for leaks, etc, and usually end up calling someone else in to do any repairs. The homeowners, most of whom live in other states, seem to prefer having someone they know and trust to do their repairs/improvements. The maintenance team is made up of individuals with many talents, including carpentry, plumbing and painting. They assume all risks when accepting a job, and make the homeowner aware that they are acting as their own agent. All monies paid for these services go straight to the employee...the company is never involved. Does the company have the right to dictate what these employees do with their own time?

 

[cbg]

Let's put it this way.

The new company policy is not violating any laws.

If you ignore the new company policy, you are not violating any laws.

But if the company fires you for doing side work outside of company policy, they are not violating any laws either. And I'm by no means sure that, since you deliberately ignored a legal company policy, you would be eligible for unemployment.