Running out of money before month? Find yourself holding a side gig just to make ends meet? Well, none of that madness, get back in your poor hole, buddy! That’s what’s happening to lots of workers in Washington State. But a lot of people aren't taking these “moonlighting bans” sitting down anymore. Read on for the scoop!
Here are Five Fast Facts on banning second jobs:
- ☝️⛔ One Isn't Enough - A lot of workers nowadays say that without a second job, making rent and covering food costs in Washington State’s big cities is nearly impossible. They've got a point since it's one of the most expensive states to live in. #poorhouse
- 🛑 Locked Out - Big employers keep putting broad bans in their contracts that try to stop people from moonlighting, even if they make little money. None of that wealth building, peasants!
- 🤔 Helping Hand...Kind Of - There is a law meant to help lower income workers. If you earn less than twice the state minimum wage (about $33/hr in 2025), your employer can’t block you from having another job. But that same law also says companies should be able to expect a little bit of loyalty. Companies have used that provision to leverage moonlighting bans in most cases.
- 📝 Workers Fighting Back - This year, workers across Washington have filed dozens of lawsuits against major employers for restricting their ability to take on a second job. It's probably more effective than going full Robin Hood, but not nearly as exciting.
- 🙏 There's Hope - In January 2025, the Washington Supreme Court ruled that blanket bans on doing any secondary work are too broad. That means companies can only restrict second jobs in narrow, reasonable circumstances (like actual conflicts of interest). That seems fair.
🔥Bottom line: So what’s the deal now? The lawsuit wave could mean more people get to work second jobs, which could help folks actually afford, you know, living. If these lawsuits go well, more people might get a shot at extra income - which means more pizza, snacks, or bills paid.
Do you have more than one job?
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