Private life
"A side job alongside your training? Forbidden!"
You want to earn extra money at weekends or in the evenings.
Art. 12 GG / § 2 Abs. 1 ArbZG / § 8 JArbSchG
It depends …
A side job is generally allowed — within limits.
A blanket ban is invalid, because your free time is yours (freedom of occupation, Art. 12 GG). The company may prohibit a side job, however, if legitimate interests are affected: if it impairs your training (you arrive exhausted), if it is with a competitor, or if the maximum working time is exceeded. Hours with several employers are added together (§ 2 (1) ArbZG); for minors the 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week apply to all jobs combined. If your contract contains a duty to notify, you must report the side job. During vacation you may not take a job that contradicts the purpose of rest (§ 8 BUrlG).
What the law says
§ 2 (1) ArbZG – Working time
Working hours with several employers are to be added together.
§ 8 BUrlG – Gainful work during vacation
During vacation the employee may not perform gainful work that contradicts the purpose of the vacation.
§ 4 (5) JArbSchG – Several employers
If a young person is employed by several employers, working and shift times as well as working days are added together.
What you can do
- Check whether your contract requires you to report a side job — if so, notify briefly in writing.
- Add up all hours: training + side job may not break the maximum limits.
- No job with a direct competitor of your training company.
- Make sure you get enough sleep before school and exams.
Email template for your trainer
Subject: Notification of a side job
Dear [name of trainer],
I hereby notify you that from [date] I will take up a side job with [employer, sector], namely [scope, e.g. 4 hours on Saturdays].
The job does not compete with our company and does not affect my training or attendance at vocational school. I comply with the statutory maximum working hours overall.
Kind regards
[Your name]