Can you, as a security guard, work for multiple companies at once? This question is important as many security roles are not full-time and you may want to maximize your income by working at two or more companies.
The short answer is yes, there is nothing legally to stop you from working for various licensed security companies. There are some complications though as you will see here. So, hopefully, after reading the article, you can be confident about your next move. Let’s get started.
Will a Company Be Happy About a 2nd Job?
You have your security guard license, so it means you have the choice of holding multiple positions within the security sector. Still, while there is nothing in law to stop you from working two roles, some companies may require exclusivity.
While that’s true, most won’t have an issue. For example, you can work a primary job during the week from 9-to-5 and perhaps another one over weekends. Others may like mixing in a night role with a daytime job.
Before signing a contract, it’s important to check whether or not there is anything in there about working in another role.
There are a few reasons why an employer may not like this. It could be that they want you to have flexible working hours that are not affected by another employment or perhaps they may not want you working for a rival company.
If you’re hoping to further your career and gain promotion, your existing company may also question your commitment if you are working in more than one role. With all that being said, there are many security guards out there that work in multiple roles without any issues.
Should You Tell The Company
There are three things to consider here which comes down to morals, logistics, and contract. Let’s start with your contract. If it’s written into your contract that you can’t take up any other job role then you are risking dismissal by taking up another job.
If you’re struggling for money, then it’s best to talk to your company about it. You can ask for increased hours or perhaps an exemption from that clause in your contract. Taking a job behind their back here would be a very risky move.
By logistics, we’re talking about how feasible it is to have two roles without anyone else knowing about it. If you work set hours then it’s quite easy to hide but if you need to work flexible hours, then there is a chance the jobs could clash. Again, if this is a possibility, then you should probably inform the companies about your two jobs.
Finally is the moral argument. Is telling your employer that you have another job the right thing to do? We’ll leave that up to you but what we would say is that it’ll make your life easier to tell the truth.
If you’re taking a 2nd job it’s because you need the money. Almost every employer will understand that. If your employer doesn’t, then you can ask for more hours or look for a better role elsewhere. It’ll make your life easier to just let them know.
Will The Security Company Know About the Second Job
It is not certain for an employer to find out if you are in a second job but they usually do. The reason is that sooner or later there will be a clash of hours, you’ll let slip to a colleague or you keep making excuses. The fundamental question is if they find out, can you get fired?
It all depends on the terms and conditions of your employment contract. You can get fired if your agreement prohibits you from working for another company. The reason is that it is a breach of contract and places you at risk.
Another question that might be on your mind is if your employer can stop you from working for the competition. Unless it is stated in your signed contract, they can’t stop you from working for anyone.
There are countless instances when you may have to lie about it. For example, your company may organize a get-together outside of working hours which you have to decline as you’ll be working your second job. Then you have the likes of social media to contend with.
As we mentioned above, for your own peace of mind, it’s best not to keep it a secret as they’ll probably find out sooner or later anyway.
Pros and Cons of Working for Multiple Companies
If you recently got your license, then you may end up with part-time hours or some casual shifts. Hence, working for more than one company can generate a higher income. Furthermore, you can do different types of security work.
For example, you can work at a condo as a security guard for two days and then at an event for two days. Doing this provides you with experience in different security fields. In addition, the added experience makes interviewing for a better role easier if you want to progress your career.
While your employer might not have any contractual problems with your working for multiple companies, you may find they might not want you to do so. Also, as you may be working shifts, you might face challenges in being overtired.
The company may face problems scheduling your shifts, hence, you need to tell them about your availability. You can also be deemed to have a lower commitment when working for two companies at the same time. Due to this, the chance of promotion with a higher wage becomes lower.
How Many Hours Can You Work for Two Jobs?
The most an employer can make you work is 48 hours per week but if you agree to it, you can go over that amount if you want to earn more money.
There is no limit to the number of working hours that you can have if you want to do it. For example, there would be no issues with working 30 hours per week with one company and 20 hours per week with another.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, you can work for more than one security company as long as it doesn’t breach your existing contract. While you may want to keep it secret, it’ll be easier in the long run to be open and honest about who you are working for.
