Can I have a second job?
Usually yes — there's no law against having two jobs, but watch your hours, your contract and your tax code. No general rule stops you working a second job. Exclusivity clauses that ban it are unenforceable for workers earning at or below the Lower Earnings Limit of £123 a week (extended to low-income workers since December 2022). Your hours combine across all jobs for the Working Time Regulations: a maximum of 48 hours a week averaged over 17 weeks, unless you sign a voluntary opt-out. On tax, your Personal Allowance (£12,570) applies to your main job, so the second is usually taxed at basic rate via code BR (20%) — there's no penalty rate, just your allowance used up. You may have a contractual duty to disclose a second job and avoid conflicts of interest. In short: yes, within the hours, contract and tax rules.
📋 The rules
- No law bans a second job
- Exclusivity clauses unenforceable at/below £123/week
- Hours combine: max 48/week unless you opt out
- Second job usually taxed at code BR (20%)
- Your contract may require disclosure and no conflict
🔓 Exceptions
- Can't opt out of 48 hours: some transport, aviation and sea workers
- Higher earners may still be bound by enforceable exclusivity/non-compete clauses
- Dismissal of a low-paid worker over an exclusivity clause is automatically unfair
⚠️ Penalties & fines
There's no fine on you for having two jobs. The Working Time Regulations are enforced by the HSE and local authorities, and breaches can bring enforcement notices and, on conviction, unlimited fines — on the employer. You can opt out of the 48-hour week in writing (cancelling with up to 7 days' to 3 months' notice). On tax, if your Personal Allowance is wrongly applied to both jobs, you'll owe HMRC the underpaid tax later; National Insurance is charged separately on each job. Beware a myth: "a second job is taxed at a penalty rate" is false — code BR just means your tax-free allowance is already used on job one, so the total tax across both jobs is the same as on the combined amount. To stay safe: check your contract for disclosure/conflict clauses and watch your combined hours.
📎 Official sources
- GOV.UK — maximum weekly working hours and opting out →
- Acas — exclusivity clauses →
- MoneyHelper — pay and tax with more than one job →
❓ Frequently asked
Can I legally have two jobs?
Yes, there's no law preventing you from having a second job. The main things to watch are your combined working hours under the Working Time Regulations, any clauses in your employment contract requiring you to disclose other work or avoid conflicts of interest, and making sure your tax across both jobs is correct.
Can my employer stop me taking a second job?
It depends. Exclusivity clauses banning extra work are unenforceable for workers earning at or below the Lower Earnings Limit. Higher earners may be bound by enforceable exclusivity or non-compete clauses, and most contracts can require you to disclose other work and not take a job that creates a genuine conflict of interest.
How do working hours add up across two jobs?
Your hours from all jobs count together for the Working Time Regulations, which set a maximum of 48 hours a week averaged over 17 weeks. If your combined hours exceed that, you'd need to sign a voluntary opt-out. Certain roles, such as some transport and aviation workers, can't opt out for safety reasons.
Will my second job be taxed more?
No, there's no special second-job tax. Your tax-free Personal Allowance is usually applied to your main job, so the second is often taxed at the basic rate through tax code BR. Across both jobs, you pay the same total tax as you would on the combined income. National Insurance, though, is worked out separately for each job.
Do I have to tell my employer about a second job?
Often yes. Many contracts include a term requiring you to disclose other work, partly so the employer can check working-time limits and conflicts of interest. Even without an express clause, taking a job with a competitor or one that harms your performance could breach your duties, so it's safest to check your contract and be upfront.
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