Sydney, that's a great point about getting approval from your employer about "side-gigs" aka moonlighting after your full time job is over. As you mention, it's important to know company policy and the right way to go about working another job.
Now, when it comes to working a side-gig on a passion that you have, reflect on this nightmarish situation. Imagine your company policy specifically denies you any side-gig opportunity. There is no acceptance, no forms to fill, just a denial. What can you do?
I was put in this position right out of college. I was working for a start-up that did not allow any moonlighting for any position. During that time I was trying to freelance with web development management for some projects that sort of fell into my lap. I loved this opportunity to learn and also to get paid for doing so. I went and asked my company for approval. I even made a whole proposal of how it will make my own work performance better and more efficient for the start-up (which was true). However, my superiors pointed to the hand-book and tapped their fingers on the company policy.
I had to get creative. I politely agreed not to take payment for my services. For anybody who is in this situation, don't fret because there is a solution! You don't need to take payment, but legally you can accept gifts and donations. This is an easy way to get around a strict company policy on working another job.
Obviously, you need to tread carefully and read up on your own state's laws about this. In Florida, this was legal and I believe for most ,if not all states, it is legal. This way you can work pro-bono but still accept gifts and donations from your friendly clients. You all know the saying, when life gives you lemons :)
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Benjamin Utterback
President: BGS Washington D.C Region
Senior Consultant | Marriott Global Headquarters
Bethesda, MD
Honors College at Florida International University
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-14-2020 14:43
From: Sydney Wawrzyniak
Subject: Side gigs
Hi Tiffany,
I've always been the kind of person who has multiple projects going on at once simply because I love being busy. Most of my side gigs evolved from hobbies that I did for fun (and for free) and then figured out a way to monetize them. For instance, I currently work full-time as an accountant and part-time as an aerial fitness instructor. I had been an aerial fitness student for years until one day I realized I had the knowledge and ability to teach what I had learned. Now not only do I get paid to instruct classes, but I also get a significantly discounted "instructor membership" with which I can attend unlimited classes at the studio as a student.
Like you mentioned, though, the companies for which we work full-time frequently have restrictions on the types of outside work we can perform, if any. Before starting a side gig, I highly recommend reading through your company's policy regarding outside employment. My company prohibits all outside employment unless they provide written approval. I had to fill out an application with my company to request approval of my job as a part-time aerial fitness instructor, which was reviewed by not only my immediate supervisors, but also our office managing partner and our national risk management office. Needless to say, it took months for the approval to come through, but now I can happily keep busy with both my full-time job and my side gig without worry.
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Sydney Wawrzyniak
Georgetown University
Reston, VA
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