Vermont Moonlighting Law?

Question

I have worked for a co. fr 3 years as a sales associate. Recently i have picked up a second night job to help support my nephew and single sister, since the father has choose to not be there. I have already had a meeting with the gm re: the owners concerns. hes worried that to the public eye it looks ike our co. is going under because i'm bartending a few nights a week. i know how it goes in this co. they'll piss me off enough and try to get me to quit. what can i say to the owner to smooth things over, and get him to realize who cares what other people think, this is reality. i dont have to support my sister i choose to because i love her more than anything in this world. Basically what i have to say so far is: Why do people work? To pay bills and support there families, and thats what i am doing. I never signed any moonlighting policy. is there an actual policy enforced by the state of Vermont? Can i keep my other job?

Answer 1

I grew up in Vermont and have never heard of any court preventing you from earning a living, assuming there's no non-compete clause in your employment agreement, assuming you have one.

You don't have to justify this to anyone. If the owner has an issue, you can just say you're just trying to earn some extra money. If they force you out over it, you could possibly sue them, if you documented what you told them (and when) and how they reacted.

But you certainly can have a second job. If your second job causes you to fail at your first (you come in late, whatever), that's valid for termination, but as long as you can handle your responsibilities at each job, they really have no say what you do in the hours when you're not on their clock.

Answer 2

If any thing, I believe it would have to fall under a conflict of interst clause of some sort. I know in California even non-compete contracts (leaving one company to work for a competing one) are never heald up in court as they don't want to take away someone's livelihood. I think VT should have something similar, but this isn't to say that your main job is going to give yo a hard time about it.

Answer 3

I've lived in Vermont for all but 2 years (betwen the ages of 2 and 4) of my life. I've never heard of any policies and doubt they exist.

With the cost of housing, taxes, heating, electricity and fuel, I can't think of any person I know who does not have a second job.