By: Beth Lincow
http://www.humanresourceattorney.com/
The recent scandal regarding an attorney who was suspended by New York Attorney
General’s office for moonlighting as a dominatrix highlights an important question—when
can an employee’s “moonlighting” legitimately be used by employers as grounds for
disciplinary action.
According to the New York Post, Alisha Smith, a well-respected lawyer who handles
securities fraud cases in the New York Attorney General’s office, was suspended after the
newspaper inquired about whether she is working after hours as a dominatrix.
“The employee has been suspended without pay, effective immediately, pending an internal
investigation,” said a spokesman for state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.
Sources told the newspaper that the suspension was supported by an employee policy that
bars outside employment without prior approval if the job results in more than $1,000 in
pay.
What Are the Rules for Moonlighting?
For the most part, employees are free to do what they want with their free time outside of
work. However, if moonlighting is directly damaging to the employer’s interests, or creates
a risk of serious harm, it has in some cases amounted to misconduct and even warranted
termination.
Of course, many of these issues can be avoided by outlining employees’ obligations in
employment contracts and employee handbooks, as seems to be the case with the New
York Attorney General’s office. In general, this will make it much harder for an employee to
argue that he should be entitled to hold another job while employed by your company.
About Beth Lincow Cole
The Law Office of Beth Lincow Cole is committed to helping employers comply with
federal and state employment law and avoid potential business-wrecking lawsuits.
If your company needs employee or management training or assistance in drafting, reviewing, or
revising its EEOC/discrimination policies, contact employment law attorney Beth Lincow Cole.
If you are seeking an Executive Coach for yourself or your organization, consider contacting CB Bowman, MBA, CMC at Executive Leadership, LLC 908.509.1744 cb@exec-leadershipllc.com; http://www.exec-leadershipllc.com.
CB Bowman, ia a Certified Master Coach and president, CEO of Executive Leadership, LLC. She is also the Chairperson and Founder for the Association of Corporate Executive Coaches (http://www.acec-website.org).
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