A public sector employee is putting his career at risk by taking on a side project
The problem
Deputy cultural attaché to the US Murray Hewitt holds a crucial position at the New Zealand consulate. However, his colleagues have noticed he that devotes a significant proportion of his time in the office to managing fledgling rock band Flight of the Conchords. How can HR address the fact Murray runs his business during workplace hours – possibly at the cost of his salaried job?
The solution
Innocent as it may seem, Murray’s double working life could be an issue of gross misconduct, says Ana Ferguson, HR manager at Birmingham Museums Trust.
“Murray’s managers should start by establishing whether he had declared a conflict of interest,” she says. “It might be that someone already knows about his role as the band’s manager – but potentially, this is a breach of employment.”
Having a conversation with Murray to establish the facts is the first step. If it transpires that he is taking payment for hours he is not working, or misusing company equipment to send out band memorabilia, this may require an investigation, Ferguson warns. If Murray is cooperative and it is clear that his day-to-day work has not suffered, there is the potential for a workplace scheme involving the band.
If a consulate project could be linked with the Flight of the Conchords to make their presence in the office more official, with a formal agreement between the organisation and the musicians, it could prove a mutually beneficial solution – creating some positive publicity for the consulate, says Ferguson. “But HR would need to establish clear boundaries between Murray’s roles,” she adds.