Hi Jarvis,
I strongly recommend obtaining a proper approval from your employer to earn money on the side.
I did so a few years ago just to cover potential earnings from such a business. What I took away from that episode:
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Check what your contract says about using equipment for other than work-related purposed. If it’s not absolutely forbidden, using equipment a few hours per week will not violate the general contract.
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When companies give permission, they have to and will remind you of the limitations of the side hustle, as others have written. This is particularly relevant if you have a 100% contract, because no employer wants to have an employee that is overworked and not fully focused on the contractually obliged work. So you mustn’t use all of your vacation for working on the side, you need recover for your main job. Same for maximum weekly hours and minimum breaks between work (main or side job). at a minimum, they have a right to assess potential interference (=being a competition) with your main job and their business. From what I heard, this part is usually not an issue, i. e. they can only refuse permission with very good reason.
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As others have written: Even if you’re a happy employee, don’t give more information than necessary when requesting permission. In this case: What you’re doing = blogging + affiliate marketing. How much you intend to earn (or are earning) is not a required information and something strictly between you and the tax authorities.
So in your situation: Get permission with the minimum information, enjoy the pocket money and develop your side hustle. It seems that while many side hustle aren’t superior to, e. g., negotiating a higher salary or switching jobs, they have beneficial side effects.
Otherwise: Awkward situation when someone finds out about your side hustle without you having asked for permission. Many people have such a permission, so getting one raises fewer eyebrows that you might imagine.
Obligatory qualifier: I’m not a professional adviser in these matters. A little bit of googling shows a good article for people in Switzerland at The Poor Swiss (very thorough and practical, as always) and zurichtogeneva.com (esp. on the non-monetary aspects).
Cheers,
J.