40% take on second jobs

ABOUT 40% of Irish people have taken on a second job in order to strengthen their finances over the last two years, according to a survey.

The study – carried out by the Irish arm of leading British employment law/health and safety consultant Peninsula – found that the level of “double-jobbing” to make ends meet increased by 17% in 2009, having been at 23% in 2008.

In addition, the growing trend is raising significant concerns over potential breaches of employment law, particularly possible breaches of working time regulations – which currently has 48 hours as the maximum working week.