"Exclusive service" in employment contracts

[crofty1984]

How common are they? Are they actually necessary?

I'm all for avoiding conflicts of interests, doing something that will negatively affect the business, stealing clients, etc.
I get if you work a nightshift in job 2 you won't be able to do your work in job 1 properly the day after.

But surely these are already covered by the relevant rules? Conflict of interest or poor performance in the workplace? Why is it contractually acceptable to go to the pub on a work night and get hammered and turn up the next day hungover, but not to stand the other side of the bar and turn up the next day sober, but £30 better off?

[singlecoil]

I'm guessing that such clauses are there, when they are there, to allow the employer to address a situation that might arise only if they wish to.

[jonah35]

is it legally enforceable? let's say you are a supermarket manager with contractual 9-5 hours but at night you are a taxi driver from 7pm till 11pm - i can't see how you could be disciplined for that?

[rog007]

It's all about protecting your investment, the individual from any resultant safety issues and your customers. If you word things correctly then you have an employment contract and policies in place to avoid/deal with the situations you describe.

[GeraldSmith]

crofty1984 said:

Why is it contractually acceptable to go to the pub on a work night and get hammered and turn up the next day hungover, but not to stand the other side of the bar and turn up the next day sober, but £30 better off?

It isn't, whilst it may not say so specifically, if you aren't fit for work you are in breach of contract

[singlecoil]

It may well be that such conditions are not legally enforceable, after all, an employer is entitled to the hours he pays for, he's not entitled to dictate how the employee spends his other hours.

Might be worth taking advice on if it's something important.