Outside employment policies vary by employer, but typically define a certain amount of time spent devoted to other activities, which may be compensated or uncompensated. Outside employment policies may require disclosure of outside employment or approval of outside employment. Such policies are promulgated out of concerns regarding conflicts of interest, distraction from job performance quality or scheduled work hours, misuse of employer's resources, appearance of impropriety, and others. Misrepresentation or confusion of others may be a concern. For example, when an employee runs their own accounting business, there may be concern that his/her accounting customers think the work is performed by the employee under the auspices of the company
Outside employment is generally defined as 1) employment or consulting in an outside work or activity, 2) receipt from an outside source of a regular retainer fee or salary, or 3) regular or periodic involvement with a business or company in which the employee has a principal interest or a non-profit organization in which the faculty is an officer, board member, etc.
