When Joe Johnson launched his own technology firm, he needed more money to pay the bills. So he snagged a full time job as a systems engineer. But when no one was looking. He snuck in work for his own business right from his desk!
It's called daylighting. When employees work a 2nd job while on the clock at their first. Workplace expert Liz Ryan says it's happening more and more these days because people are either in fear of a layoff or their own paychecks are shrinking.
"Individuals have been running everything from catering businesses, to wedding planning, e-trading, eBaying, separate engineering firms and, you know, it runs the gamut." Brian Barry - National Human Resources Association
Barry cautions, as you might expect, at most companies daylighting is a big no-no!
"There's a lot of organizations that would terminate an individual for that." Brian Barry
In fact, someone in Barry's own office was recently fired for working as a wedding planner on the job.
Liz Ryan says, along with the practical risk...
"The other is ethical, what do you feel comfortable doing? I don't think it's especially ethical to work for somebody else while you're at the desk on the job of your full time employer." Liz Ryan - Workplace Trend Expert
Joe says he never shirked his duties and has no regrets. He didn't get caught but was recently laid off due to budget cuts. He recently started his own business. It's not just people working a second job while at work. Liz Ryan says so many employees are nervous about being laid off that many are spending hours at work hunting for a new job!