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February 13, 2012
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David G. Savage: Why activists may not be in a hurry to have High Court rule on alternative marriage
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Laura McMullen: 10 Least Expensive Public Schools for Out-of-State Students
Kimberly Palmer: How to actually enjoy -- relaxing, financially -- your vacation
February 8, 2012
Warren Richey: Why momentous Prop. 8 ruling might not satisfy gay-rights groups
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February 7, 2012
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Jonathan Tobin: Iran Threatens Israel With Destruction, But the New York Times Doesn't Hear It
Jeffrey Fleishman: In newly democratic Egypt, tens of democracy activists jailed, to stand trial; their groups are 'threatening the stability of the homeland'
Julie Deardorff : Researchers say antioxidants may not be that effective and could do more harm than good
Mark Clayton: How did Anonymous hackers eavesdrop on FBI and Scotland Yard?
February 3, 2012
Edmund Sanders : Israeli official says Iran is creating missile that could reach East Coast of US
Victoria Kim: Immigrant-smuggling ring used black drivers to avoid racial profiling
February 2, 2012
Jim Carney: Wrong number call may have saved her life
Reza Kahlili : Ex-CIA spy in Iran's Revolutionary Guard: What Obama doesn't grasp about striking deals with Tehran
Tina Susman: For woodchuck rescuer, every day is Groundhog Day
February 1, 2012
Brian Bennett: US officials see increasing threat of domestic attack from Iran
Emily Brandon: How to Take Advantage of New 401(k) Fee Disclosures
January 31, 2012
January 30, 2012
Paul Richter and Ramin Mostaghim: Misreading Teheran's limits -- deadly and economically devastating as they may be -- is a risk administration, Europe seem willing to take
Suzanne Bohan: Warning: Nap-deprived tots missing more than sleep, study finds
Meg Handley: Banks Revamping Rewards Programs to Woo Customers
January 27, 2012
Caroline B. Glick: Obama: Of course I intend to prevent a nuclear holocaust . . . in a few months
Yochonon Donn: In liberal New York City, fervently-Orthodox Jews may soon be getting a district to call their own
Jeannine Stein: An inflated ego and thinking you're 'all that' doesn't just make others sick of you, it can make you ill
Katy Hopkins: New budget rules may affect how much money you get for college
January 26, 2012
Ed Koch: To the New York Times, calling for the murder of Jews by those capable of having their incitement taken seriously isn't news
Jeannine Stein: Mental illness struck one in five U.S. adults in 2010: Report
January 25, 2012
Richard Simon: House passes two bills endorsing the use of religious symbols at military memorials
Fred Weir: Putin: Multiethnic Russia cannot survive as a US-style 'melting pot'; must find its own way
Susan Johnston: 5 Sneaky Coupon Strategies Consumers Should Watch Out For
January 24, 2012
Carol Clark: The price of your soul: How your brain decides whether to 'sell out'
Caroline B. Glick: America lost most in 'Arab Spring'. Sadly, many voters still don't grasp the extent
Warren Richey: Drug criminal scores win in GPS ruling from conservative-leaning high court
Erika Bolstad: Black conservatives gather to talk about gaining strength
January 23, 2012
Melissa Dribben: Jewish voters to play a key role in Florida's Republican primary
Jordan Rau: In quest to grow, Catholic hospital system will announce this morning its break from church
Ali Safi: U.S. envoy gives Taliban terms for peace talks
January 19, 2012
January 18, 2012
January 17, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney Jr.: No-kidding red lines: U.S. response to an Iranian nuke may be bluster, but Israel's won't be
David G. Savage: They sued their principals after slandering them online --- now the cases are headed to the Supreme Court
David Francis: Where to Invest in 2012: With stocks expected to rebound, opportunity abounds for investors
January 13, 2012
Ben Lynfield: Israeli lawmakers move to annex Jewish Judea, one museum at a time
Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz: Thriving through touch: Gentle massage helps older people with low mobility improve in mind and body
January 12, 2012
Warren Richey: Landmark Supreme Court ruling a 'resounding win' for religious groups
Warren Richey: Supreme Court says no to new rule on eyewitness testimony
John Fauber : Statins found to raise diabetes risk in postmenopausal women
Katy Hopkins : Consider This Before You Pay for an Online Degree
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January 11, 2012
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Tom Hussain: Pakistan -- recipient of more than $21 billion in civilian and military aid -- speeds pursuit of Iranian pipeline, defying US
David G. Savage: High court signals it won't be loosening TV's 'indecency' rules
Stephen Ceasar: Oklahoma's Islamic law amendment can't go into effect, court rules
January 10, 2012
Reza Kahlili: From an ex-CIA spy: US must exploit new split in Iran's Revolutionary Guard
Karen Kaplan: Study: Nicotine replacement products ineffective when used in real-life situations
January 9, 2012
Michael Doyle: Put through legal hell over dream home, couple fought back hard --- all the way to Supreme Court
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Jewish World Review
April 20, 2009
/ 26 Nissan 5769
Must I tell my boss about a job search?
By
Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir
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http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
Q. I'm continuing my regular job but after hours I'm actively seeking another job: answering ads, sending out CV's, going to interviews, etc. Do I have to inform my boss about this?
A. The basic rule is that a person is required to inform his employer about what he does after work hours only if it has some impact on his performance during working hours. Here are the main examples of what to be careful about:
1. DISTRACTION ON THE JOB:
The Tosefta (a collection of laws parallel to the Mishna) states:
One who engages his fellow to work in the store for half the profit, if he is a workman he may not engage in his own work because he will not pay attention to the store. (1)
It's common when someone has another job, or is looking for another job, that it occupies or distracts him during work hours. This is impermissible unless you have the employer's consent.
2. TOO TIRED TO WORK
The Jerusalem Talmud states:
A person should not work on his own [field] at night and hire himself out during the day, and shouldn't starve himself or afflict himself, because he diminishes the work of the employer.(2)
Nowadays people are accustomed to working forty hours a week in an office and not seventy hours a week of crushing labor in the field, so taking a night job doesn't automatically affect performance. But even today, a person needs to take whatever steps necessary to make sure he is at his best at work.
3. CONFLICT OF INTEREST
Jewish law obligates us to disclose material conflicts of interest, for example a garage mechanic who also fixes cars in his spare time and might compete with his employer.
However, if you don't fall into any of these categories, you have no obligation to inform your employer of your plans to move on.
We find an example of this in the book of Genesis. The patriach Jacob has worked for his father-in-law Lavan for twenty years; then G-d appears to him and tells him to return home to the land of Canaan. However, he is worried that Lavan may work against him if he tells him of his plans, so he plans his escape in secret: "Jacob decided to go behind the back of Lavan the Aramaean, and did not tell him that he was leaving." (Genesis 31:20.) Lavan becomes angry and pursues after Jacob and his family, but Jacob defends his actions: "Jacob spoke up. '[I left this way] because I was afraid,' he said. 'I thought that you might take your daughters away from me by force." (Genesis 31:31.)
We know that Jacob would never have done anything unethical towards Lavan; indeed in the same chapter he asserts: "You know full well that I served your father with all my strength." (Genesis 31:6. Translation adapted from The Living Torah by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan.)
We do see from this story that a person shouldn't disclose his plans from the employer without a good reason. But most employees have good reason to worry that if their job search is disclosed the employer will start looking for a replacement and might very well fire them. So you should take great care that your job search doesn't impact your work in any way, but you don't need to let your employer know. Good luck with your job search!
SOURCES: (1) Tosefta BM 4:12 (2) Jerusalem Talmud, Demai 7:3
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JWR contributor Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir, formerly of the Council of Economic Advisers in the Reagan
administration, is Research Director of the Business Ethics Center of Jerusalem, Jerusalem College of Technology.
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