company asked what you do outside of work (job offers, employee, employer)

[callalillies]

My husband's manager called him today and said they came across his profile on linkedin and noticed he had an outside business. They asked him about that and then asked if he was looking for another job?!

Do they have the right to do this? What do they care what he does on his own time? None of this is done during the day. It's done after work/after hours.

Why is this any of their business?

[callalillies]

This whole thing pisses me off. These effin companies act like they own the person just because they employe them. We work our butts off, work OT for free, work weekends and holidays, and all hours of the night. Then they have the nerve to question someone because they want to make some extra money?!

[Charles]

There are all sorts of ethical issues, security issues, and proprietary issues that may have a bearing on this and validate their questions. We on the forum don't know much more than what is written in the original post.

[kodaka]

So long as the side business doesn't interfere with the day job, isn't direct competition, or a security breach, I agree that an employer should mind their own business. But employers have fired people for less or no reason.

In this case, it genuinely sounds like the employer is concerned the employee is unhappy with their job and is considering leaving, and they want to know what that might be. If he isn't unhappy, he might simply say he likes spending his spare time doing something completely different, since the dichotomy makes him enjoy his day job that much more, and by happy coincidence, he found people liked to pay him for his outside interests.

Many people who decide to operate unrelated side businesses often have a quick word with their employer as the business is getting started, just as a courtesy. Oftentimes the problem comes in the suspicion that comes from secrecy, not from the actual fact that the employee has outside interests.

[annerk]

I agree with both Kodaka and Charles.

I have an outside business--actually two of them. I made it very clear to my employer that my outside work would have no impact at all on my day job, and that I have no intention of persuing either as a full time career, and that both should just be considered hobbies that create some income. I even encouraged him to call my previous employer to verify that there would be zero conflict.

Neither have any potential at all to ever create any sort of ethical or security issue with my full time employment.

[Magnolia Bloom]

Does your husband's profile state that he is interested in job inquiries? I'm always surprised at the number of folks who include "job inquiries" on their Linkedin profile when it shows they are currently employed. So maybe it could mean that they want inquiries for their side businesses?

[kodaka]

I suppose it is possible they are looking at the 'job inquiries' status--but pretty much everyone marks that. All it really means, to people who understand what networking means, is that the individual might entertain an offer if it was presented--not that they would necessarily accept it or that they are unhappy in their current job. But perhaps this employer is not social-networking savvy.

[Magnolia Bloom]

I guess I am not social-network savvy either, then, BC if my employee had a resume online stating that he/she is interested in job inquiries, I'd wonder about that, as well. But then, I never look at job ads when I am in a happy place work-wise. My mother, OTOH, always used to look. Different perspectives, I guess.

[kodaka]

But then, I never look at job ads when I am in a happy place work-wise

Neither is someone who leaves the 'interested in job offers' field checked on LinkedIn. LI isn't a job board. It is an online resume service. Having that field checked merely means that if someone were interested in approaching them with an offer, they might be willing to entertain that offer. And most people are always willing to at least entertain the offer--and always have been. The existence of LI hasn't changed that.

It isn't a matter of different perspectives, it is a matter of casting judgement upon people about something you seemingly haven't even taken the time to familiarize yourself with.

[FarNorthDallas]

The last two places I worked did not permit moonlighting without permission from the companies.